President Trump told Congress in a two-page letter dated July 10 that U.S. strikes on Iran resumed on July 7. The letter said “United States ground forces are not involved in these strikes” and called them “limited, measured, planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties,” according to political.org’s account.
Whether that restarts a 60-day clock under the War Powers Resolution is not settled. The 1973 law requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and to end hostilities within 60 days unless lawmakers approve an extension. It was passed after Vietnam to restrain presidential authority.
How the clock got here
The war began on February 28, when U.S. forces and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iranian targets. Trump notified Congress of the operation on March 2, which started the 60-day count. A ceasefire came in early April. On the day the deadline arrived, May 1, Trump wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Chuck Grassley that there had been no exchange of fire since April 7 and that “the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026 have terminated.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had made the argument in Senate Armed Services Committee testimony the day before. “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” he said. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, did not accept that. “I do not believe the statute would support that,” he said.
Trump was blunt about the law itself. “It’s never been used. It’s never been adhered to. And every other president considered it totally unconstitutional. And we agree with that,” he told reporters at the White House. CBS News noted that Congress has never successfully used the resolution to end a military campaign.
What broke the calm
According to political.org, a memorandum of understanding in June was meant to end the war. Afterward, it says, Iran repeatedly threatened and attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas normally flows. Three ships were attacked on July 6 and 7, and U.S. strikes followed. The Treasury reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil sales.
CENTCOM says U.S. forces have hit more than 300 targets inside Iran, including the cities of Iranshahr, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, Chabahar, Bushehr and Aq Qala. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they attacked two U.S. bases in Kuwait and two in Bahrain, and warned that other bases could be next. Trump announced the naval blockade of the Strait would formally resume on Tuesday, July 14.
The letter cited his “constitutional authority as commander in chief.” It described the strikes as focused on threats to U.S. forces and on securing safe passage for commercial vessels.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the U.S. broke the memorandum first by cutting off Iranian oil sales, interfering in the Strait and failing to stop Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Ghalibaf said, “Hormuz will only open with Iranian arrangements, not American threats.” Vice President JD Vance said, “That artery has got to remain open, and that is what the Iranians have to know. If they try to close it down, there’s going to be response from the American military.”
What Congress may do
Political.org reported it is not yet clear whether the administration will frame the latest strikes as a new operation, which would restart the 60-day clock, or whether lawmakers will force a vote to approve or disapprove. Senate Democrats earlier said they would force war powers votes every week the chamber is in session until the war ends, but have not said what they will do now. Some Republicans had said before the May deadline that the administration should begin winding down and that they were working on legislation to authorize force against Iran.
A U.S. official confirmed diplomacy is going on behind the scenes, with Pakistan and Qatar trying to bring both sides back to the table. Trump said he will give a “Speech to the Nation” on Thursday evening and has not said what it will cover.
Sources
- Trump Formally Notifies Congress of Resumed Military Action Against Iran, Restarting 60-Day War Powers Clock
- Trump tells Congress "hostilities" with Iran have "terminated" as conflict hits 60-day deadline
