Trump Claims Hostilities with Iran Ended, Argues No Congressional War Authorization Needed
President Trump declared that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has "terminated" hostile actions, asserting that he does not need congressional authorization to continue the conflict. However, congressional Democrats reject this, arguing that a ceasefire does not suspend the War Powers Resolution's deadline and citing ongoing U.S. military deployments as evidence of continued hostilities.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 10:07
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WASHINGTON (Central News Agency) – U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has "terminated" hostilities between the two sides. He used this to strengthen his argument that congressional authorization is not needed to continue the conflict. The deadline for the War Powers Resolution, which Congress was expected to address, expired today.
According to Reuters, Trump stated in a letter to congressional leaders today that there has been no further engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the ceasefire. He said, "Hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated."
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the U.S. President's authority to conduct military operations is limited to 60 days. After this period, the President must terminate the action, seek congressional authorization, or request a 30-day extension based on the "unavoidable military necessity of safely withdrawing U.S. forces."
Iran's official IRNA news agency reported today that Tehran had conveyed its latest U.S.-Iran negotiation proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediators, but Trump immediately rejected it.
Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict within 48 hours of launching the initial airstrikes two months ago, initiating the 60-day countdown, which expired today.
As this deadline approached, congressional staff and analysts said they had long expected Republican Trump to circumvent it. A senior Trump administration official stated yesterday that the administration's position was that the War Powers Resolution's deadline did not apply.
Trump stated that he believes the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional, and presidents, both Republican and Democratic, have long argued that the law infringes upon the constitutional powers granted to the President as Commander-in-Chief. Legal experts say this dispute has not yet been ruled upon by a court.
Before leaving Washington for Florida, Trump said, "We have a ceasefire, which is like getting extra time."
Congressional Democrats have repeatedly attempted to pass War Powers bills to force Trump to end the war or seek congressional authorization. They rejected Trump's claims, stating that there are no provisions in the 1973 War Powers Resolution that allow for the suspension of the countdown due to a ceasefire.
They also stated that the continued deployment of U.S. warships to blockade Iranian oil exports is evidence that hostile actions are ongoing, not a ceasefire.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated in a release: "After 60 days of conflict, President Trump still has no strategy or exit plan for this ill-conceived war." She called the deadline a "clear legal threshold" for Trump to act in accordance with the law.
In his letter to Congress, Trump also acknowledged that the conflict might not be resolved. He stated that Iran still poses a "significant" threat to the United States and U.S. armed forces. (Translated by Li Pei-shan) 1150502
According to Reuters, Trump stated in a letter to congressional leaders today that there has been no further engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the ceasefire. He said, "Hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated."
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the U.S. President's authority to conduct military operations is limited to 60 days. After this period, the President must terminate the action, seek congressional authorization, or request a 30-day extension based on the "unavoidable military necessity of safely withdrawing U.S. forces."
Iran's official IRNA news agency reported today that Tehran had conveyed its latest U.S.-Iran negotiation proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediators, but Trump immediately rejected it.
Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict within 48 hours of launching the initial airstrikes two months ago, initiating the 60-day countdown, which expired today.
As this deadline approached, congressional staff and analysts said they had long expected Republican Trump to circumvent it. A senior Trump administration official stated yesterday that the administration's position was that the War Powers Resolution's deadline did not apply.
Trump stated that he believes the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional, and presidents, both Republican and Democratic, have long argued that the law infringes upon the constitutional powers granted to the President as Commander-in-Chief. Legal experts say this dispute has not yet been ruled upon by a court.
Before leaving Washington for Florida, Trump said, "We have a ceasefire, which is like getting extra time."
Congressional Democrats have repeatedly attempted to pass War Powers bills to force Trump to end the war or seek congressional authorization. They rejected Trump's claims, stating that there are no provisions in the 1973 War Powers Resolution that allow for the suspension of the countdown due to a ceasefire.
They also stated that the continued deployment of U.S. warships to blockade Iranian oil exports is evidence that hostile actions are ongoing, not a ceasefire.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated in a release: "After 60 days of conflict, President Trump still has no strategy or exit plan for this ill-conceived war." She called the deadline a "clear legal threshold" for Trump to act in accordance with the law.
In his letter to Congress, Trump also acknowledged that the conflict might not be resolved. He stated that Iran still poses a "significant" threat to the United States and U.S. armed forces. (Translated by Li Pei-shan) 1150502