President Donald Trump formally notified Congress that the United States has resumed military operations against Iran, restarting the War Powers Act clock after a months-long ceasefire ended. In a letter dated July 10, Trump stated that military operations resumed on July 7 following Iranian attacks on neutral commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which the administration claims violated a recent memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
The notification, required under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, allows the administration another 60 days to continue military operations without additional congressional authorization. The president may extend this period by an additional 30 days before needing congressional approval.
Trump noted that he had ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, 2026, which was extended, but argued that Iran's attacks on July 6-7 effectively ended the ceasefire and reset the statutory timeline for military operations. According to the letter, U.S. forces have conducted strikes targeting Iranian military assets, while clarifying that U.S. ground forces are not involved in these operations. The strikes are described as limited and planned to minimize civilian casualties.
The military campaign aims to protect American forces in the region, secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, defend U.S. allies, and degrade Iran's ability to threaten U.S. interests. The notification comes amid increased pressure on Tehran, with U.S. Central Command conducting strikes against Iranian targets and Trump announcing a naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz requiring commercial vessels to pay transit fees for U.S. security operations.
This notification complicates congressional efforts to limit Trump's authority for military operations against Iran, as both the House and Senate previously approved resolutions seeking to restrict hostilities without explicit authorization from Congress. However, these measures carry limited legal force and would likely face a presidential veto if enacted as binding legislation. The administration has maintained that the previous War Powers clock ended with the ceasefire, a claim disputed by critics who argue that military operations continued throughout the truce.
Trump rejected this interpretation, asserting that the renewed strikes are a separate military action following Iran's violation of the ceasefire agreement. He emphasized that the military action is consistent with his responsibility to protect Americans and U.S. interests, both domestically and internationally. The letter concludes by stating that U.S. forces are prepared to take further action as necessary to respond to additional Iranian attacks.