Trump Announces Termination of Hostilities to Congress

President Donald Trump informed congressional leaders on May 1, 2026, that hostilities with Iran have terminated, a claim that allows the administration to bypass a legal deadline requiring congressional authorization for the ongoing conflict.

In letters sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley, Trump asserted that the military engagement, which began on February 28, 2026, has effectively ended. The president cited a ceasefire that began on April 7, 2026, stating there has been no exchange of fire between United States forces and Iran since that date.

The timing of the notification coincides with a critical 60-day deadline under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The law requires the president to either secure congressional approval to continue military operations or terminate them within 60 days of notifying Congress of the start of hostilities. By declaring the hostilities terminated, the administration argues the legal clock has stopped.

Constitutional Dispute Over War Powers

The administration’s interpretation of the law has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argue that the conflict remains active. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut stated on social media that there is no pause button in the Constitution, or the War Powers Act, noting that the ongoing naval blockade of Iran constitutes a continuing act of war.

President Trump has dismissed the validity of the 1973 statute. Speaking to reporters on May 1 as he departed the White House for Florida, Trump suggested that previous presidents had similarly ignored the requirement and stated that most people consider it totally unconstitutional.

The conflict, initiated under Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with large-scale strikes conducted by the U.S. And Israel. While the administration claims the active fighting has ceased, the United States continues to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command reported that 45 commercial vessels have been directed to return to port to comply with the blockade.

Iranian Warnings of Renewed Conflict

Despite the president’s claims of terminated hostilities, Iranian officials have signaled that a return to active warfare is probable. On May 2, 2026, Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in the Iranian military’s central command, Khatam al-Anbiya, warned that renewed fighting was likely.

“A renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely, and evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements.”

Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Iranian military central command

Asadi’s statement followed reports that President Trump was not satisfied with a new Iranian peace proposal. The 14-point proposal was delivered to U.S. Officials through Pakistani mediators. According to reporting, the Iranian offer proposed ending the U.S. Blockade and opening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but sought to delay discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.

Trump has indicated that he is reviewing the proposal but has not ruled out the resumption of military strikes if a satisfactory deal is not reached. During remarks at The Villages in Florida on May 1, the president defended the military campaign as a necessary measure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, stating, We cannot let lunatics have a nuclear weapon.

The current diplomatic stalemate has contributed to regional volatility and economic pressure. National gas prices in the U.S. Rose more than nine cents in a single day to $4.39, according to AAA, as global energy markets react to the instability in the Strait of Hormuz.