Military actions could be initiated by either the U.S. or Iran during the current ceasefire if a peace agreement is not reached [1].
This instability threatens to collapse a fragile truce in the Middle East, potentially escalating a regional conflict into a full-scale war. Because no formal treaty exists to end the hostilities, both nations maintain the legal and strategic capacity to resume combat operations.
Sandro Teixeira Moita, a professor of Military Sciences at Eceme, said that the absence of a signed peace accord leaves the door open for military maneuvers from either side [1]. This risk persists throughout the current ceasefire, which is scheduled to last six weeks [1].
Recent statements from leadership in both nations suggest a high level of tension. On April 30, 2026, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that military operations against Iran could continue even after the legal deadline to obtain congressional approval expires [2].
Iran has shifted the diplomatic burden toward Washington. A spokesperson for Iran said that the responsibility for the next move now rests with the U.S. [3].
The contradiction between these positions highlights a dangerous gap in communication. While the U.S. signals a willingness to bypass legislative oversight for military action, Iran suggests it is waiting for a U.S. diplomatic gesture to maintain the peace [2], [3].
Without a binding framework, the six-week window serves only as a temporary pause rather than a path toward lasting stability [1].
“The operation military against Iran can continue even after the end of the legal deadline for obtaining the approval of Congress.”
The current situation indicates that the ceasefire is a tactical pause rather than a diplomatic resolution. With the U.S. Department of Defense signaling a potential bypass of congressional approval and Iran placing the onus of escalation on the U.S., the lack of a formal peace treaty means any single tactical miscalculation could trigger a return to active warfare.
