President Donald Trump sent a letter to congressional leaders Friday stating that military hostilities with Iran have terminated [1].
The declaration is a strategic move to address the 60-day deadline imposed by the War Powers Act [2]. By arguing that active combat has ceased, the administration seeks to avoid a mandatory withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region.
In the letter, Trump said, "Hostilities with Iran have terminated" [1]. He linked this conclusion to a cease-fire that began on April 7, 2026 [3]. This timeline is central to the administration's legal argument regarding the duration of the conflict, and the necessity of congressional authorization.
Trump said the cease-fire has effectively ended all exchange of fire since April 7, 2026 [4]. Under the War Powers Act, the president must either receive congressional approval for military action or withdraw troops within 60 days [2]. The administration is using the lack of active combat to argue that the deadline has been satisfied.
Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., received the notification as the deadline approached [1]. The letter suggests that because the exchange of fire has stopped, the legal trigger for a forced withdrawal is no longer active [2].
This move allows the U.S. to maintain its military posture without seeking a formal vote from Congress to extend the conflict. The administration maintains that the current state of peace justifies the continued presence of troops to ensure the cease-fire holds [1], [2].
“"Hostilities with Iran have terminated."”
This legal interpretation allows the executive branch to bypass the War Powers Act's restrictive timeline by redefining the status of the conflict. By classifying the situation as a terminated hostility rather than an ongoing war, the administration maintains military flexibility in the region without needing explicit legislative approval from Congress.
