President Donald Trump effectively declared an end to active combat on Friday, informing Congress that hostilities with Iran “have terminated.” The announcement comes exactly on the deadline of the War Powers Resolution, a 60-day clock that would have forced the President to seek formal authorization from Congress to continue the fight.
By declaring the war over now, Trump has sidestepped a potentially messy constitutional battle on Capitol Hill.
Despite the official end of the fire, the President remains in a position of maximum leverage. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he made it clear that while the shooting has stopped, the diplomatic squeeze is only getting tighter.
The 60-Day “Loophole.”
The timing of this announcement is no accident. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Friday was the final day for the administration to ask for a declaration of war. By writing to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley to state that no fire has been exchanged since the April 7 ceasefire, Trump has effectively frozen the clock.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed this play in Senate testimony, arguing that a ceasefire pauses the legal requirement for Congressional approval. While some senators, like Tim Kaine, are crying foul over the legal interpretation, the reality on the ground is that the U.S. is no longer in an active “exchange of fire.”
”They Have No Military Left”
Trump’s assessment of the Iranian regime’s current state was blunt. When asked about a new peace proposal mediated by Pakistan, the President was dismissive. He claimed he is not satisfied with the deal because Iran is negotiating from a position of total collapse.
”Iran wants to make a deal because they have no military left,” Trump told reporters. He described the Iranian leadership as “disjointed” and “all messed up,” claiming that internal discord among four different factions in Tehran is preventing them from agreeing to his terms.
Is it Victory or Just a Rebrand?
Looking at this, it is hard to argue that Trump isn’t playing the game better than most. By declaring the war “terminated” right as the War Powers deadline hit, he deprived his political opponents of a chance to vote against him or label him a “warmonger” in an unauthorized conflict. It is a great move: win the fight, then claim you’ve brought peace just in time to avoid the paperwork.
As for Iran, the “no military left” comment might be typical Trump hyperbole, but the underlying fact is that the U.S. has them in a corner. If their leadership is truly as “disjointed” as he says, then the blockade and the ceasefire are doing more damage than a month of bombing ever could.
However, there is a risk. By declaring hostilities over, he might be giving the Iranian regime room to breathe and reorganize under the guise of “peace talks.” He says they are “choking like a stuffed pig,” but if the U.S. doesn’t get the specific concessions it wants regarding nuclear weapons, this might just be a long pause before an even bigger explosion.
