The U.S. President's administration argued that a ceasefire with Tehran had 'terminated' hostilities as a legal deadline arrived on Friday for coming to Congress about the two-month Iran war.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president can wage military action for only 60 days before ending it, asking Congress for authorization or seeking a 30-day extension due to 'unavoidable military necessity regarding the safety of United States Armed Forces' while withdrawing forces.
The war began on February 28, when Israel and the U.S. began airstrikes on Iran.
On Friday, Iranian state news agency IRNA said Tehran had sent its latest proposal for negotiations with the U.S. to Pakistani mediators.
Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict 48 hours after the first airstrikes, starting the 60-day clock that ends May 1.
As that date approached, congressional aides and analysts said they expected the Republican president to sidestep the deadline.
A senior Trump administration official said on Thursday the administration's view was that the war powers law deadline did not apply.
The characterization of a ceasefire as 'terminated' raises concerns about the transparency and accountability of the executive branch in times of crisis.
Congressional Democrats have repeatedly tried to pass war powers legislation that would force Trump to end the war or come to Congress for authorization.
The Trump administration's actions raise questions about the limits of executive power in times of crisis.
