NEW YORK – In a letter to Congress on Fridaythe president of the United States, donald trumpnotified that The hostilities with Iran that began on February 28 had endedbut legislators and experts questioned the argument.
Trump’s approach occurred when it was fulfilled the 60 day period in the War Powers Resolution of 1973 which establishes that a President can only take military actions for that amount of time before ending themrequest authorization from Congress or request a 30-day extension.
The report from outlets such as Reuters noted that Trump declared that a ceasefire had ended the conflict with the Islamic Republic or that there has been no exchange of fire since the temporary ceasefire that was extended indefinitely.
Legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, have warned that the conflict exceeds the period established by the War Powers Law.
Said statute limits the US president’s ability to deploy military forces to other countries without congressional authorization. In addition, it requires the president to notify the Legislature about the sending of troops within a period of forty-eight hours. The law prevents troops from being active for more than 60 days without legislative approval.
On Thursday, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethstated in a Senate hearing that the deadline stopped when the US and Iran agreed to the temporary ceasefire.
The agreement began on April 8 and Trump extended the truce indefinitely last week.
Talks between the parties remain stalled. Iran insists it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US lifts the blockade on its ports. While the Trump Administration seeks a long-term agreement that addresses, among other things, the Islamic country’s nuclear program.
Trump’s letter is reportedly an attempt to bolster the argument that he does not need congressional permission to continue the conflict.
Yesterday, the authorities in Iran notified that they had sent mediators in Pakistan their latest proposal as part of the negotiationsbut Trump rejected it.
Trump indicated that the U.S. would be better off if officials fail to reach a deal with Iran, as negotiations appear to have stalled again. “Frankly, maybe we’re better off if we don’t make any deal at all. You want to know the truth? Because we can’t let this continue,” Trump said at an event in West Palm Seaside. “It has gone on too long now,” he added.
Democrats denied the Administration’s interpretation, arguing that the 1973 law does not include the figure of a ceasefire.
Several legal experts also agree on this point.
“A ceasefire does not automatically suspend the 60-day period established by the War Powers Act.“said John Bellinger, former legal advisor to the State Department. In statements cited by FOX News, the former member of the National Security Council under President George W. Bush, stated that US forces “clearly continue to carry out military operations and are in potential danger”, this in reference to the presence of US ships in areas such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Stephen Pomper, policy director of the Global Disaster Community, indicated, for his part, that the interpretation is not very credible.
“It is certainly not based on the text of the statute,” he declared to the aforementioned network.
“There is still a huge American deployment. There is an active blockade, which constitutes an act of war,” he said.
The former MAGA representative, Marjorie Taylor Greenalso questioned Trump’s intentions after sending the letter.
“Trump has just sent a letter to Congress stating that the war in Iran has been ‘over,’ given that today marks 60 days and, for the President to preserve the authority to continue it, the Constitution requires a vote by Congress. However, the war is not really over,” said the Republican for social network X.
The former Trump ally stated that what the president seeks is to stop congressional action that limits his long-term plans in Iran.
“Trump is simply resetting the counter to avoid a congressional vote that could limit his power to wage war against Iran; and the war is by no means over just because there is a ceasefire. Furthermore, Trump is about to resume military action very soon. It was never over,” Taylor Green insisted.
“This is unconstitutional, and Congress should vindicate its constitutional authority,” said the former congresswoman.
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