Trump Tells Congress Iran Hostilities Are ‘Terminated’ Just as War Powers Clock Runs Out

President Trump notified Congress on May 1 that hostilities with Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, have “terminated.” The letter arrived on the exact day the War Powers Resolution deadline would have required the administration to obtain congressional authorization to continue military action.

The timing is not a coincidence. Under the War Powers Resolution, a president has 60 days to conduct hostilities abroad before needing formal approval from Congress. By declaring the conflict terminated on the deadline itself, the White House avoids the legal requirement entirely.

The question now is whether the declaration matches reality on the ground.

President Trump today sent a letter to Congress stating “the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have been terminated.”

The President’s letter notes