The Trump administration claims the US-Iran war has effectively ended, citing a ceasefire that began in April, despite ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
For War Powers Resolution purposes, hostilities have 'terminated' since the ceasefire took effect on April 7, an official said, allowing the White House to bypass congressional approval for continued military engagement.
The claim builds on arguments made by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who said the ceasefire had paused the war, and with it, the legal timeline under the War Powers Resolution.
However, critics, including Democrats, have challenged this reading, with Sen. Tim Kaine saying the defence secretary 'advanced a very novel argument that I've never heard before' and that it 'certainly has no legal support.'
The situation on the ground remains tense, with Iran exerting control over the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy maintaining a blockade aimed at preventing Iranian oil tankers from reaching open waters.
A proposal for a new mission framework, potentially named 'Epic Passage,' has been suggested as a workaround to the legal and political debate.
