Trump Declares End to Combat Operations Against Iran as War Powers Deadline Passes

The US administration has officially declared that combat operations against Iran have “terminated” as of Friday, May 1, coinciding with a critical legal deadline for presidential military authority, Reuters reported.

In a letter to Congress, according to Politico, US President Donald Trump stated that there have been “no exchanges of fire” between the US and Iran since April 7, and that the hostilities which began on February 28 have ended.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president can conduct military operations for only 60 days without congressional authorization. By declaring an end to combat, the administration effectively resets this countdown, potentially complicating efforts by lawmakers to limit future executive actions.

This maneuver means that if a new imminent threat or provocation occurs, the president could theoretically order fresh strikes as a new, distinct operation, which would trigger a brand-new 60-day reporting cycle., according to Axios.

The 60-day limit was set to expire on May 1, exactly two months after the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran began. While an anonymous official confirmed the White House position that hostilities are over, approximately 50,000 US troops remain stationed in the Middle East amidst a continuing naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously argued that a ceasefire “suspends” the legal deadline, a view rejected by Democrats who contend the blockade itself constitutes ongoing combat.

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The announcement comes as Tehran reportedly submitted a new proposal through Pakistani mediators, CNN reported. Trump characterized his current options as either a major military escalation or reaching a diplomatic deal, while simultaneously labeling the 60-day war powers deadline as “absolutely unconstitutional”.

The cessation of active fire follows a massive logistics effort where the US delivered 6,500 tons of military equipment to Israel in a single 24-hour period on April 30. Despite the de-escalation in active combat, the Israeli defense ministry noted that weapons shipments would “continue to expand in the weeks ahead” as the regional standoff persists.