May 1 (UPI) — Trump administration officials said Friday that the temporary cease-fire between the United States and Iran paused the 60-day clock that required an end to the conflict or Congress to declare war.
President Donald Trump notified Congress about the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on March 2, two days after the bombing began. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, he had 48 hours to do so, and by law, he must also end the use of force against Iran or Congress must declare war.
Trump announced April 21 that a cease-fire first implemented April 7 had been extended pending negotiations on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
A senior Trump administration official told The Hill on Friday that “for War Powers Resolution purposes,” the conflict with Iran was considered “terminated.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress of the Trump administration’s stance on the 60-day window during a Thursday hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Ultimately, I would defer to the White House and White House counsel on that,” Hegseth told U.S. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
“However, we are in a cease-fire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a cease-fire.”
Kaine pushed back on Hegseth’s remarks, saying he did “not believe that statute would support that.”
Despite that, a White House official told CBS News on Thursday that the administration had been in active talks with members of Congress about the looming deadline.
“President Trump has been transparent with the Hill since before Operation Epic Fury began, and administration officials provided over 30 bipartisan briefings for members of Congress to keep them apprised of military updates,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.
The War Powers Resolution does, however, allow Trump to request an extra 30 days to safely extricate U.S. troops from conflict zones, said David Janovsky, head of the Constitution Project on Government Oversight.
“It’s not a 30-day blank check for the president to continue whatever hostilities he sees fit,” he said.
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