Trump Declares Iran Hostilities 'Terminated' Under Ceasefire, Bypassing Congress

Key facts

• President Trump notified Congress on May 1 that US hostilities with Iran have 'terminated' due to the ceasefire.
• The War Powers Resolution requires congressional authorization within 60 days of notifying lawmakers of military action.
• The US and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 7, 2026, which has since been extended.
• Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Navy enforces a blockade of Iranian ports.
• The State Department approved $8.6 billion in military sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE on May 1.
• Iran sent a revised peace proposal to Pakistan on May 1, but details remain undisclosed.
• Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, unseen for over seven weeks, stated Iran will safeguard its nuclear and missile capabilities.
• Trump posted a mocked-up image on Truth Social on April 29, telling Iranian leaders to 'get their act together.'

Ceasefire as Legal Shield

President Donald Trump has informed Congress that US hostilities with Iran have terminated under the ceasefire that began on April 7, arguing that the temporary truce relieves him of the obligation to seek legislative approval for the war. In a letter to congressional leaders on Friday, the 60th day since he formally notified Congress of strikes against Iran, Trump wrote: 'There has been no exchange of fire between the United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026. The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated.' The administration's interpretation of the War Powers Resolution would allow it to avoid the requirement that a president obtain congressional authorization within 60 days of notifying lawmakers of military action, or else cease fighting. The law also permits an administration to extend that deadline by 30 days. Trump claimed that the ceasefire has paused the clock on any such obligation, a move that critics argue stretches the law's intent.

A Fragile Truce Under Strain

While the ceasefire has been extended, its meaning remains deeply uncertain. Iran continues to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz, and the US Navy maintains a blockade to prevent Iranian oil tankers from reaching open waters. Trump himself described the Navy's actions as 'like pirates' in carrying out the blockade. Iranian defence forces reportedly sounded an alarm and claimed that their systems engaged with projectiles over Tehran, underscoring the volatility of the situation. Iranian military officials stated that their current caution was 'intended to give diplomacy a chance,' while Speaker of the Iranian Parliament MB Ghalibaf criticized the US pressure campaign.

Military Sales and Sanctions Escalate

The US State Department announced on Friday the approval of military sales worth over $8.6 billion to Middle Eastern allies Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The sales bypassed congressional review, a move that aligns with the administration's push to bolster regional partners amid the conflict. Simultaneously, the US imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities within Iran, as well as on a China-based crude terminal operator trading Iranian oil. Trump insisted that his strategy of squeezing Iran financially is working, claiming the blockade is costing Iran millions of dollars. Cuba rejected the fresh sanctions, with its foreign minister calling them 'unilateral coercive measures' that impose 'collective punishment against the Cuban people.'

Iran's Nuclear Red Line and Khamenei's Silence

A major sticking point remains Iran's nuclear program. Trump demanded guarantees on curbing it, stating from the Oval Office: 'At this moment, there will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons.' Iran has pushed back defiantly. In a message on state media Thursday, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran would 'safeguard' its nuclear and missile capabilities, and that 'foreign actors' have no place in the Persian Gulf except 'the depths of its waters.' Khamenei has not been seen or heard in more than seven weeks since his father's assassination, but he has issued several written messages. Trump described Iranian leadership as 'very confused' after a number of its top military officials were killed in the war.

Diplomatic Maneuvers Through Pakistan

Iran sent a revised peace proposal to Pakistan on Friday, though details were not published. Mediators in Islamabad believe a fair deal is within reach, sources said. The proposal follows Trump's rejection of a previous version. Trump told reporters: 'We just had a conversation with Iran. Let's see what happens. But, I would say that I am not happy.' An Iranian source told CNN that Tehran could see talks restarting if the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and Iran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The US has made it clear that Iran should let any ships pass through the strait unconditionally; it is not known whether the latest proposal from Iran goes that far.

The Impasse and the Threat of War

The stalemate between Washington and Tehran drags on, with the very real possibility of a resumption of war looming. Trump said he was briefed with options by US Central Command on Thursday, ranging from 'blast the hell out of them and finish them forever' to 'make a deal.' Later on Friday, he said: 'they're not coming through with the kind of deal that we have to have.' Tehran appears to be playing for time, dragging out talks about talks and sending multiple proposals with seemingly incremental movement. The hope may be that Trump will eventually tire of the fight, or that domestic political pressure over soaring gas prices will force his hand. The back-and-forth jabs put ever greater distance between the parties, nearly four weeks after the temporary ceasefire was first reached.

Uncertainty Over the Path Forward

Trump claimed that no one knows the status of talks with Iran aside from himself and a handful of others, suggesting negotiations are advancing despite the public appearance of a standstill. However, Iran remains deeply distrustful of the US and did not understand why the US abandoned talks in Pakistan in the last round, an Iranian source told CNN. The clock is ticking. Trump is supposed to get Congress' approval when the Iran war hits 60 days, but lawmakers cannot agree when that is. The administration's declaration that hostilities have terminated may face legal challenges. For now, the world waits in hope of a deal, even as the possibility of an alternate outcome – the resumption of war – looms overhead.

The bottom line

• Trump has declared US hostilities with Iran terminated under the ceasefire, bypassing the War Powers Resolution deadline for congressional approval.
• The ceasefire remains fragile, with Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy enforcing a blockade.
• The US approved $8.6 billion in military sales to Middle East allies and imposed new sanctions on Iran and its oil trading partners.
• Iran's nuclear program is a critical red line: Trump demands its elimination, while Iran insists on its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
• Diplomatic efforts continue through Pakistan, but Iran appears to be playing for time, and the threat of resumed war remains real.
• Supreme Leader Khamenei remains unseen for over seven weeks, communicating only through written messages, adding to the uncertainty.