Trump Tells Congress Iran Hostilities Have Terminated As 60-Day War Powers Deadline Nears

President Donald Trump told congressional leaders that hostilities with Iran have “terminated” as a 60-day legal deadline approached under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, setting off a dispute over whether the clock can be paused or stopped.

In a letter dated 1 May, Trump wrote that “There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026” and that “The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated.”

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The Washington Post framed the moment as Trump reaching “a legal deadline that requires military operations to halt unless lawmakers authorize force,” while NBC News reported House Speaker Mike Johnson said the U.S. is “not at war” and that “We’re policing the Strait of Hormuz and trying to get a peace.”

CBS News said Trump argued again Friday that the U.S. has “already won” the war and that he was “not satisfied” with a new Iranian deal, even as Iran offered a proposal for a second round of peace talks.

BBC News reported that Friday was the 60th day since Trump formally notified Congress of strikes against Iran on 2 March, and that U.S. law requires a president to “terminate any use of United States Armed Forces” within 60 days without Congress’ permission.

The core factual hinge across the reporting is the administration’s position that a ceasefire beginning in early April means the 60-day clock “pauses or stops,” while multiple lawmakers and legal voices argue the War Powers deadline still applies.

The dispute over Iran hinges on how the War Powers Resolution’s deadlines apply to the administration’s conduct during the ceasefire period, with multiple outlets describing competing interpretations of what counts as “hostilities.”

BBC News reported that a 1973 federal law requires the president to end military hostilities not authorized by Congress within 60 days, and it said the administration’s position is that the clock is not ticking because the U.S. and Iran have been in a ceasefire since early April.

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BBC also quoted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saying, “We are in a ceasefire right now, which, our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” while Democratic Senator Tim Kaine responded, “I do not believe the statute would support that.”

The Guardian described Trump’s letter as “suggesting that the 60-day deadline to seek approval from the legislative branch no longer applied,” and it said Trump told reporters the War Powers Act was “totally unconstitutional.”

Vox’s reporting pointed to the continuing U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as evidence that the conflict was not over.

NPR said Republicans would defer to Trump despite the May 1 deadline, noting that the administration argued “the deadlines set by the law don't apply because the war in Iran effectively ended when a ceasefire began in early April.”

Reactions to Trump’s “terminated” claim came quickly from Democratic leaders and civil liberties groups, while some Republicans signaled they would not force a confrontation even as the deadline passed.

CBS News quoted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejecting the idea that hostilities were over, writing “That’s bulls***,” and it said Schumer argued the continued situation meant “lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices increase, all while Americans foot the bill.”

The Guardian reported Jeanne Shaheen saying Trump’s declaration “doesn’t reflect the reality that tens of thousands of US service members in the region are still in harm’s way,” and it added that she said the strait of Hormuz remained closed and prices were “skyrocketing at home.”

The Guardian said the ACLU sent a letter expressing “profound concern” that the president was “carrying out an illegal war,” and it quoted the ACLU’s argument that “there is no pause button – and certainly no reset button – under the statute.”

Politico described cracks in GOP support, including Sen. Susan Collins, who said, “That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement,” and it noted Collins had switched votes since the war began.

In the legal framing, Yooronuz argued that if the war continues without congressional authorization it will become “explicitly illegal,” and it said “it is up to the federal courts to declare it.”

While the legal fight over the War Powers deadline played out in Washington, the diplomatic and military picture described by outlets remained tense, with Iran offering proposals and the U.S. maintaining pressure around the Strait of Hormuz.

CBS News said Iran offered “a new proposal for a second round of peace talks with the U.S.” and it reported a senior Iranian commander warning any new U.S. attacks would draw “sustained, wide-ranging, and painful retaliation.”

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PBS News said Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal, quoting him: “They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens,” and it described the ceasefire as “shaky” and “three-week.”

BBC News reported Iranian media said a proposal was sent to Pakistan on Friday, and it said it was unclear if it had reached the U.S.

PBS News described a U.S. Navy blockade stopping Iran’s tankers and said “The world economy is also under pressure as Iran maintains its chokehold on the strait.”

BBC News quoted Prof Heather Brandon-Smith saying, “Hostilities have not ceased. The US has instituted a blockade of Iranian ports. This is an act of war. This is hostility,” and it said she argued a ceasefire is not a permanent end to the conflict.

As the deadline passed, reporting described an immediate political question: whether Congress would authorize continued force or whether Republicans would continue deferring to the White House’s interpretation.

“Trump says deadline for Congress to approve Iran war doesn’t apply: Hostilities have ‘terminated’ Trump says deadline for Congress to approve Iran war doesn’t apply: Hostilities have ‘terminated’ WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House asserted to Congress in a letter Friday that hostilities with Iran have “terminated” despite the continued presence of U”

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NPR said the May 1 deadline would pass “with no action from GOP lawmakers,” and it reported that Congress left town for a week on Thursday after the Senate rejected a Democratic attempt to halt the war for a sixth time.

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NPR also quoted Senate Majority Leader John Thune saying, “I'm listening carefully to what the members of our conference are saying, and at this point I don't see that,” when asked about voting to authorize force.

The same NPR report described Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski saying she would introduce a limited authorized use of military force if the administration has not presented what she called a “credible plan,” and it quoted Murkowski saying, “Congress has a role.”

Politico described the White House’s rationale as seeking to head off a “growing battle on Capitol Hill,” while also noting that some Republicans could lose support as the war stretches into its second month.

CBS News reported the Pentagon planned to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. forces from Germany, describing it as a signal of Trump’s discontent with European allies’ assistance in the U.S.-Iran war.