U.S. President Donald Trump informed Congress that military hostilities with Iran have ended, as a key legal deadline passed Friday requiring him to obtain legislative authorization to continue military action under the War Powers Resolution.
The 60-day window mandated by the War Powers Resolution expired Friday, by which point the president was required to secure congressional approval to sustain any ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran. Trump did not seek that authorization.
Instead, according to reporting by France 24, Trump argued that the resolution itself is unconstitutional and maintained that the conflict had already come to a close following a ceasefire reached in early April.
The War Powers Resolution dispute
The War Powers Resolution, enacted in 1973 following the Vietnam War, requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. forces to armed conflict. It also sets a 60-day limit on such deployments without congressional authorization, with an additional 30 days permitted for withdrawal.
Presidents of both parties have historically contested the constitutionality of the resolution, arguing it infringes on the executive branch's authority as commander-in-chief. Trump's position follows that established pattern of executive resistance to the law's constraints.
Ceasefire cited as resolution
The Trump administration has pointed to the ceasefire agreement reached in early April as evidence that active hostilities have concluded, removing what the White House characterizes as any need for ongoing congressional authorization.
By declaring the conflict terminated, Trump effectively sidesteps the authorization requirement - a move that is likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers who have sought greater oversight of presidential war-making powers.
The expiration of the deadline comes amid broader congressional debate over the extent of executive authority in matters of military engagement, a tension that has persisted across multiple administrations.
Details of the ceasefire terms and the current status of U.S.-Iran relations were reported by France 24 journalist Simon Moritz.
