President Donald Trump notified Congress on Friday that hostilities between the United States and Iran have ended, citing a ceasefire agreement reached on April 7, 2026. The notification was sent just as a 60-day deadline set by the War Powers Resolution approached, a law that requires presidents to obtain congressional approval for military engagements or end hostilities within 60 days. Trump’s letter stated that there has been no exchange of fire between U.S. forces and Iran since the ceasefire and that the conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, has been “terminated.”
The announcement effectively pauses the timeline for congressional authorization under the War Powers Resolution, which historically has been a source of tension between the executive branch and Congress. The law, passed in 1973, requires the president to notify lawmakers within 48 hours of deploying troops and mandates withdrawal within 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued military action. Republican lawmakers, including Senator Todd Young of Indiana, have urged the administration to seek formal war authorization should hostilities resume. Some Republicans also acknowledge concerns over the economic impacts of the conflict, particularly rising gas and fertilizer prices driven by the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the declared end to active combat, U.S. forces remain deployed in the Middle East, enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said will continue until Iran restores freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-February 27 status. The blockade has drawn legal scrutiny from experts who note that blockades are considered acts of war under international law, complicating the administration’s interpretation of the conflict’s termination. The blockade is intended to pressure Iran to meet nuclear demands without further military strikes, which officials say the administration currently deems unnecessary.
The Trump administration disputes the constitutionality of the War Powers Resolution, with the president calling it “totally unconstitutional.” Nevertheless, some Democrats reject the administration’s claim that the war has ended. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and Senator Jeanne Shaheen described the declaration as inconsistent with ongoing risks to U.S. forces and the broader geopolitical situation, highlighting that U.S. troops remain in harm’s way and that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. They argue that the administration lacks legal authority for continued military actions without explicit congressional approval.
The Senate recently voted 50-47 against a resolution directing Trump to withdraw U.S. forces, signaling a divided Congress on the issue. Some Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski, have indicated they may pursue legislation to authorize the war formally if no plan is presented by the administration. Others, such as Senators John Curtis and Susan Collins, have emphasized the constitutional requirement for Congress to authorize extended military operations or see them concluded.
Previous presidents have similarly contested the War Powers Resolution’s restrictions while engaging in prolonged military actions without explicit congressional approval, including Barack Obama in Libya and Bill Clinton in Kosovo. The resolution offers a 30-day extension for troop withdrawal if the president certifies an "unavoidable military necessity," but the current administration has not reportedly sought such an extension.
As most lawmakers are on recess, further debates and legislative actions on the Iran conflict are anticipated when Congress reconvenes. Meanwhile, the Trump administration maintains a cautious posture, holding off on renewed strikes while continuing economic and military pressure on Iran.