Just hours before a crucial deadline, the Trump administration has argued the war in Iran has been effectively terminated under the ongoing ceasefire, a claim that also stops the clock on the 60-day congressional approval requirement under the War Powers Resolution.
The Deadline Looms
Under the War Powers Resolution, President Donald Trump faced a 60-day clock — expiring Friday, May 1 — to either end the war in Iran or secure congressional approval to continue military operations. The clock began ticking on February 28, when U.S. forces first engaged Iranian targets.
Now, with the deadline mere hours away, a senior administration official told the Associated Press that the U.S. and Iran have not exchanged fire since April 7, and that the hostilities have been terminated. A U.S. official also told Reuters: “For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated.”
Hegseth Defends the Ceasefire Argument
Earlier Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued before the Senate Armed Services Committee that the 60-day clock was effectively paused under the ceasefire.
“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth said during the hearing.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine pushed back immediately: “I do not believe the statute would support that. I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and it is going to pose a really important legal question for the administration there.”
Congressional Showdown
Senate Democrats tried — and failed — for a sixth time Thursday to end the Iran war by forcing a War Powers Resolution vote.
“After two months of war, 13 service members’ lives lost, and billions of dollars squandered, it is time we recognized that the price we have paid is already too high. We must say no to this unauthorized war of choice,” Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said in a statement.
Republican Senators Susan Collins and Rand Paul joined nearly every Democrat in supporting the measure. “The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace, and the War Powers Act establishes a clear 60-day deadline for Congress to either authorize or end U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities,” Collins said. “That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement.”
Trump Claims Victory
President Trump, meanwhile, has claimed the U.S. has already won the war with Iran. “We have already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin,” Trump told Newsmax on Thursday.
“We have destroyed their navy, destroyed their air force, destroyed all of their — if you look at their anti-aircraft equipment, their radar equipment, their leadership, their leadership is destroyed,” he continued.
What Happens Next
The administration’s legal argument rests on interpreting the ceasefire as a termination of hostilities. However, legal scholars and congressional Democrats dispute this interpretation, arguing that a ceasefire does not constitute a termination under the War Powers Resolution.
The coming days will likely see legal challenges, potential court action, and continued congressional pressure. Meanwhile, the ceasefire itself remains fragile, with both sides maintaining defensive positions and the international community watching closely for any resumption of hostilities.
Whether the administration’s argument holds up in court — or in Congress — remains to be seen. But for now, the 60-day clock has become the latest battleground in a war that shows no signs of truly ending.
