Key Points
- US administration says Iran ceasefire effectively ends “hostilities” for war powers purposes
- No exchange of fire reported between US forces and Iran for over three weeks
- Donald Trump faces May 1 deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973
- Officials argue ceasefire pauses or ends the 60-day legal clock; Democrats reject this view
- Congress remains divided, with Republicans blocking efforts to limit military action
WASHINGTON: A ceasefire between the United States and Iran that began in early April has “terminated” hostilities between the two sides for the purposes of an approaching congressional war powers deadline, a senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration said.
The development comes as the White House faced a May 1 deadline tied to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which limits the duration of military engagements conducted without explicit congressional authorisation.
While the deadline requires the administration either to halt military operations or seek approval from Congress, officials indicated that it would likely pass without materially changing the current trajectory of the conflict.
“For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated,” the official said, outlining the administration’s legal position.
According to Reuters, the official added that there had been no exchange of fire between US forces and Iran since the ceasefire came into effect more than three weeks ago.
The ceasefire followed a period of intense confrontation that began on February 28, when airstrikes were launched against Iran by the United States and Israel.
The White House formally notified Congress within 48 hours, thereby triggering a 60-day countdown under the War Powers Resolution, set to expire on May 1.
Under the 1973 law, the president is permitted to engage in military action for up to 60 days without congressional approval.
Beyond that, the administration must either secure authorisation, withdraw forces, or request a 30-day extension on the grounds of “unavoidable military necessity” related to troop safety.
Despite expectations among analysts and congressional aides that the administration might seek such an extension or formally notify lawmakers of continued operations, officials now appear to be relying on the ceasefire as justification that the conflict has effectively concluded.
Speaking at a Senate hearing, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he believed the 60-day clock had effectively paused during the ceasefire.
However, this interpretation has been strongly challenged by Democratic lawmakers, who argue that the legislation contains no provision allowing the deadline to be suspended under such circumstances.
The constitutional framework governing US military engagements remains a point of contention.
While the US Constitution grants Congress sole authority to declare war, successive administrations have maintained that limited or urgent military operations can be conducted without prior approval, particularly when framed as responses to immediate threats.
Members of the Democratic Party have repeatedly attempted to pass resolutions compelling the administration either to withdraw US forces or obtain formal congressional authorisation for continued military involvement.
However, these efforts have been unsuccessful, with Republicans—who currently hold a narrow majority in both chambers of the United States Congress—voting them down.
The broader conflict has had severe regional consequences. Iran retaliated against the initial February strikes with attacks targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting American military bases.
Subsequent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, alongside Israeli operations in Lebanon, have resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread displacement across the region.
Although the ceasefire has held for several weeks, officials and analysts continue to describe it as fragile, with uncertainty lingering over whether it marks a lasting de-escalation or merely a temporary pause in hostilities.
