The White House has formally notified the US Congress that hostilities against Iran have “terminated”, despite the continued American military presence in the region, Associated Press and Politico report after reviewing the letter.
“Since April 7, 2026, a ceasefire has been in effect between the United States and Iran. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Politico quotes Donald Trump’s letter to members of Congress as saying.
At the same time, as Associated Press notes, the document itself acknowledges that the conflict is in reality far from over. “Despite the success of US operations against the Iranian regime and ongoing efforts to secure a durable peace, the threat posed by Iran to the United States and our armed forces remains significant,” the letter says.
According to the outlets, the notification is meant to lower tensions on Capitol Hill, where Trump risks facing growing resistance even among Republicans over the continuation of the conflict with Iran.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president is required to consult Congress before deploying troops abroad and beginning a war. The use of armed forces without lawmakers’ approval is limited to 60 days; the resolution has the force of federal law.
In the case of the US war with Iran, that deadline expires on May 1. After that, Reuters notes, Trump must either end hostilities, request from Congress an additional 30 days to withdraw troops, or obtain authorisation to continue the operation. Some Republicans, however, have already signalled that they are not prepared to support a further war.
As Associated Press notes, the letter’s assertion that hostilities have “terminated” in effect allows Trump to circumvent that procedure. Politico describes it as an attempt to “defuse the dispute over whether the war requires congressional approval”.
The US and Israeli war against Iran has already led, among other things, to a sharp rise in oil prices. At the same time, peace talks have reached an impasse: the sides cannot agree on key issues—Iran’s nuclear programme and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil supplies normally pass.