The Trump administration declared Friday that its military conflict with Iran has been “terminated,” arguing that a ceasefire reached in early April renders the operation complete and eliminates any need to seek congressional authorization under the War Powers Act.
The announcement came ahead of a looming 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution, the 1973 law that requires a president to obtain congressional approval or withdraw forces within 60 days of committing troops to hostilities. The administration’s position is that the ceasefire already ended the conflict and the clock, making congressional sign-off unnecessary.
The conflict in Iran has been “terminated,” a senior administration official said, citing the April ceasefire as proof that hostilities had concluded. The White House did not offer additional details on the status of American forces in the region.
Critics on Capitol Hill were quick to push back. Several Democratic senators said the interpretation stretches the definition of “terminated” and argued the War Powers clock does not stop simply because a president says so.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a longtime advocate for congressional war authority, said Friday that a ceasefire alone does not end the legal obligation to seek a formal authorization. “You can’t just declare it over and dodge the Constitution,” Kaine told reporters.
Republicans were more measured. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) declined to immediately endorse the administration’s legal reasoning but said he would review the White House’s arguments before commenting further.
Trump launched strikes against Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure in early March after a series of escalating provocations, including an Iranian proxy attack that killed three American service members stationed in Iraq. The operation drew bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who said the president failed to consult Congress before acting.
The April ceasefire, brokered in part through Omani intermediaries, halted active exchange of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces. The administration said Iran’s agreement to the ceasefire terms represented a significant strategic win and signaled the conflict’s conclusion.
