US President Donald Trump officially notified Congress of the ‘end’ of the war with Iran, which began on February 28, 2026.
The administration sent a letter to this effect to members of Congress on May 1. In the document obtained by Politico, the White House justifies the legality of its actions in the context of the conflict in the Middle East, which has reached a critical legal milestone.
In this way, the White House is attempting to avoid the need to obtain legislative authorization to continue hostilities after the expiration of the 60-day period established by law.
Trump claims that hostilities effectively ceased as early as April 7, when the parties last exchanged fire. According to him, the current ceasefire ‘stops the clock’ and renders the requirements of the withdrawal law irrelevant.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president has 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval. After that period, forces must leave the conflict zone unless lawmakers vote to formally declare war or authorize the continued use of force.
Pentagon Chief Pete Hagset presented the Pentagon’s legal position to the Senate the day before. He explained to lawmakers that a ceasefire constitutes a technical pause or a complete halt to the 60-day limit, allowing the US to avoid winding down its campaign in the Middle East.
Despite the declaration of the end of the war, US troops maintain control over Iranian ports through a naval blockade. Currently, approximately 50,000 US troops remain in the region.
Before leaving for Florida, Trump told reporters that he had delivered a ‘final proposal’ to Iran regarding the resolution of the situation. At the same time, he expressed pessimism about the success of the negotiations, calling the Iranian government ‘divided’ and incapable of reaching constructive agreements.
The White House’s position has already led to the first losses of support within the Republican Party. Senator Susan Collins became the first Republican to refuse to support the administration’s actions after the 60-day deadline was reached.
Collins emphasized that the statutory deadline is a mandatory requirement, not merely a recommendation for the head of state.
The president himself criticized Congress’s demands, calling them unconstitutional. He stated that many previous US leaders had exceeded this deadline, and Trump called those insisting on obtaining authorization ‘unpatriotic people.’
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine called the White House’s arguments flawed. He emphasized that declaring an end to the war without actually withdrawing troops from the region violates the constitutional oath and requires a bipartisan response.
