TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – US President Donald Trump on Friday told Congress that hostilities with Iran had ended, following a ceasefire that has been in place since early April.
“On April 7, 2026, I ordered a 2-week ceasefire. The ceasefire has since been extended. There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026.The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Chuck Grassley, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.
Friday marked 60 days since Trump formally notified Congress of the military action. Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president must seek congressional authorization to continue hostilities beyond that period.
Despite the halt in fighting, Trump warned that Iran continues to pose a “significant” threat to US forces.
“Accordingly, the Department of War continues to update its force posture in the AoR (area of responsibility) in select countries, as necessary and appropriate, to address Iranian and Iranian proxy forces’ threats and to protect the United States and its allies and partners,” Trump said.
“These changes are more fully outlined in the classified attachment to this letter.”
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and the reported killing of Iran’s top leader, Ali Khamenei. The strikes prompted retaliation from Tehran against US allies in the Gulf region and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire was announced on April 8 through mediation by Pakistan, followed by talks in Islamabad on April 11–12, though no formal agreement was reached.
Trump later unilaterally extended the ceasefire without setting a new timeframe, reportedly at Pakistan’s request.
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump’s claim that the war had ended, calling it “bullshit.”
“This is an illegal war and every day Republicans remain complicit and allow it to continue is another day lives are endangered, chaos erupts, and prices increase, all while Americans foot the bill,” Schumer said on the social media platform X.
Separately, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the situation on the ground and broader strategic risks remain unresolved.
“President Trump declaring the war with Iran ‘terminated’ doesn’t reflect the reality that tens of thousands of U.S. service members in the region are still in harm’s way, that the Administration continually threatens to escalate hostilities or that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and prices are skyrocketing at home,” Shaheen said in a statement.
She added that Trump had initiated the conflict without congressional authorization and without a clear long-term strategy, saying “the president’sa nnouncement doesn’t change either fact.”
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