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War restart and notification
President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that “military action” against Iran restarted last week, with a letter dated July 10 saying “military action commenced on July 7.”
CBS News reported the letter was addressed to Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and it framed the strikes as “limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties.”
The Hill said Trump’s notification came in a 2-page letter on Friday and argued the War Powers Act requires informing Congress within two days of kinetic action abroad, while also noting the commander-in-chief can keep forces in the region for 60 days after notifying Congress.
The Hill added that the notification provided the Pentagon an extra 60 days to utilize U.S. forces in the U.S. Central Command theater absent congressional approval, and it said deployment beyond that timeframe requires congressional approval.
E&E News by POLITICO said the letter gave the administration another 60-day clock to use the military in the region without congressional approval as the U.S. and Iran fight over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Blockade and operational details
Trump reinstated a naval blockade against Iran after notifying Congress that U.S. military action had resumed, and Iran-related blasts and ship attacks near Hormuz continued as the announcement landed.
ایران اینترنشنال reported Trump said the United States would block ships belonging to the Islamic Republic or serving its customers from entering or leaving Iranian ports while keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to traffic bound for other countries.
CENTCOM said the blockade would take effect at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday and apply to vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas, while the U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said the measure would cover Iran’s entire coastline, including ports and oil terminals.
The Hill said Trump moved to turn up the pressure on Iran Monday by announcing the reinstatement of the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which will formally begin Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT.
The Hill also quoted Trump’s demand that the U.S. be “reimbursed” 20 percent on all cargo shipped through the waterway, and it tied the move to Trump’s declaration that the U.S. would be “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.”
Authority dispute and next steps
The notification to Congress could intensify a dispute between the White House and Congress over Trump’s authority to continue the war without legislative approval, with both chambers voting to direct him to end the fighting or seek congressional authorization.
CBS News said the War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of the start of military hostilities, and it reported that the War Powers Resolution limits military hostilities to 60 days unless Congress votes to authorize military force.
The Hill reported that both the House and Senate were seeking to limit Trump’s ability to carry out further military action against Iran without congressional authorization, and it said Democrats were considering legal options to force Trump to comply.
In its account of the renewed campaign, E&E News by POLITICO said Trump formally notified lawmakers this weekend that the nation is once again at war with Iran, giving his administration another 60-day clock to use the military in the region without congressional approval.
RBC-Ukraine | Local Western added that The New York Times said Trump’s letter stated American forces carried out “defensive strikes against targets within Iran” on July 7, and it said the outlet provided no further details about the contents of the letter.
