Trump formally informs Congress of Iran war resumption

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President Trump formally notified Congress last week that the U.S. has resumed military strikes against Iran, providing the Pentagon an extra 60 days to utilize U.S. forces in the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) theater absent congressional approval.

Trump told lawmakers in a 2-page letter on Friday that U.S. strikes resumed against Iran on July 7, alerting legislators in line with the War Powers Act, which stipulates the commander-in-chief has to inform Congress within two days of the military conducting kinetic action abroad.

“United States ground forces are not involved in these strikes. These strikes are limited, measured, planned and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties,” the president wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The Hill.

After the president notifies Congress, the U.S. military can be in the region for 60 days and the commander-in-chief can extend their stay for another 30 days, under the War Powers Act. But deployment that exceeds that timeframe requires congressional approval.

On May 1, Trump argued in a letter to Congress that the fragile ceasefire with Tehran effectively stopped the 60-day clock on April 7, about five weeks after the war began on Feb. 28.

The latest notification comes as the two countries fight over control of the Strait of Hormuz — a key international passageway through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas typically flows.

Trump moved to turn up the pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the reinstatement of the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which will formally begin Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT, and demanding the U.S. be  “reimbursed” 20 percent on all cargo shipped through the waterway.

“The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Last week, the U.S. military conducted four rounds of strikes against Iran, citing Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military struck over 300 targets inside the country, according to Centcom, with the most recent barrage coming on Sunday.

Trump said during the recent NATO summit that the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is “over.”

“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ interests both home and abroad and in furtherance of United States’ national security and foreign policy interests,” the president said in the letter to Congress.

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