WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has formally notified Congress that military hostilities with Iran resumed on July 7, in a letter his administration argues starts a fresh 60-day window during which he can conduct military operations in the region without lawmakers’ sign-off.
“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ national security and foreign policy interests,” Trump wrote in the letter, which is dated July 10 and was reviewed by Reuters on Monday.
The letter walks through a series of events, including Trump’s order of a two-week ceasefire on April 7 — which was later extended — and his administration’s push for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. The United States first began military strikes against Iran on February 28, acting alongside Israel.
Trump also referenced a memorandum of understanding he signed with Iran on June 17, saying that Iran broke that agreement by launching attacks on commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. That violation, Trump said, led him to order a new round of strikes against the country.
As the fighting escalated, Trump announced Monday that the U.S. would reinstate its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would work to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international traffic.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the power to formally declare war belongs to Congress, not the president. Even so, presidents have long argued they can order shorter military operations on their own authority when national security demands it.
The War Powers Act requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of beginning military action, and mandates that any military engagement launched without congressional approval must end within 60 days. In this case, the first 60-day deadline fell on May 1. However, Trump argued that deadline did not apply because he had declared hostilities over when the ceasefire went into effect — even as attacks continued and U.S. forces maintained a blockade of Iranian ports.
Critics from both parties pushed back on that interpretation. “The president can’t just wish away months of war he said would last only four to six weeks,” said a senior House Democratic aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Last month, both the Senate and the House passed a resolution calling on Trump to pull U.S. forces out of the conflict with Iran. The measure passed despite Republicans holding narrow majorities in both chambers, reflecting widespread unease over the prolonged military engagement.
Trump responded angrily to the votes, accusing those who supported the resolution of giving “comfort” to Iran and making his job “more difficult.”
