The Trump administration has argued that its military operation in Iran has effectively been “terminated” following a ceasefire, a move that could allow the White House to avoid seeking formal congressional approval under US law.
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According to a senior administration official, the US position is that hostilities that began on February 28 have ended because no direct exchanges of fire have taken place since a ceasefire came into effect on April 7.
The official said that for the purposes of the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the conflict is considered concluded, even though the ceasefire remains in place and has been extended amid ongoing regional tensions.
🇺🇸🇮🇷 The Trump administration has determined that, “for War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28 have terminated,” a senior U.S. official told NBC News.
This comes on the eve of a 60-day deadline for congressional approval of the Iran… pic.twitter.com/6GoaebN6VI
— RusWar (@ruswar) May 1, 2026
The interpretation was reinforced by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who told a Senate committee that the ceasefire had effectively paused the conflict, meaning the 60-day legal deadline requiring congressional authorisation had not been triggered in full.
The War Powers Resolution requires presidents to seek congressional approval for sustained military operations beyond 60 days or withdraw forces. Under this timeline, the administration would have faced a key deadline on Friday.
However, critics argue the legal reasoning is flawed. Democratic lawmakers have said the administration is attempting to bypass congressional oversight on matters of war and peace.
Senator Susan Collins stressed that the deadline is a legal requirement, not a suggestion, adding that any further military action must have clear objectives and a defined strategy.
Legal experts have also challenged the administration’s interpretation. War powers analysts from the Brennan Center for Justice said nothing in the law allows the 60-day clock to be paused during a ceasefire, calling the argument legally unsupported.
Meanwhile, some policy advisers have suggested reclassifying the mission under a new operational name focused on maritime security and “freedom of navigation” in the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions remain high.
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The debate highlights growing political and legal tension in Washington over presidential war powers and the limits of executive military authority.