The Trump administration formally notified Congress that military activities against Iran resumed last week, renewing questions about the administration’s obligation to seek congressional approval for a war that began in February.
The notification, which the 1973 War Powers Resolution requires be sent to congressional leaders within 48 hours of military action, suggests open-ended operations following July 7 strikes that the letter describes as “defensive” and “limited.” It was dated July 10, the same day President Donald Trump declared on social media that the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was “OVER.”
“United States Armed Forces remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners and to ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States and to our allies and partners,” Trump wrote in the letter.
As legal authority for the renewed strikes, Trump cited his “responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ interests both at home and abroad” and his “constitutional authority as commander in chief.”
While U.S. and Iranian forces have traded fire on and off for months, the two sides had officially been in a ceasefire since early April that mostly paused the war that started in late February.
