President Donald Trump rejected the latest proposal from Iran to end the war and declared the War Powers Act deadline inapplicable during a press briefing in Washington, D.C., on Friday [1].
The decision creates a legal confrontation between the executive branch and Congress over the authority to wage war. By bypassing the requirement for congressional authorization, the administration maintains unilateral control over military options in the region.
Trump said the legal deadline for congressional authorization, which fell on May 1, 2026 [2], does not apply because hostilities have already been terminated. He said that a cease-fire which began in early April 2026 [3] ended the state of war, thereby making the 60-day statutory window moot [4].
Under the War Powers Act, the president must typically seek congressional approval to continue military hostilities beyond 60 days [2]. It has been 60 days since the Iran war began [2], which would normally trigger the need for a formal vote in the House and Senate.
While the administration maintains that the April cease-fire ended the conflict, other reports suggest the situation remains unstable. Some accounts indicate the unresolved conflict continues to drive up gas prices and create global economic strain [5].
Trump's rejection of the Iranian offer comes as he reviews new military options to potentially relaunch the war [6]. This stance signals a shift away from the diplomatic framework proposed by Tehran and suggests the U.S. is prepared for renewed military engagement without a new mandate from Congress.
“President Donald Trump rejected the latest proposal from Iran to end the war.”
This move represents a significant test of executive power regarding the War Powers Act. By defining a cease-fire as a total termination of hostilities, the administration is attempting to reset the legal clock on military action. This allows the president to avoid a potentially contentious congressional vote while retaining the ability to resume military operations based on his own criteria.
