AFP: Trump administration official says combat operations in Iran have ended

The French news agency AFP reported on Friday that a senior official in U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration stated that combat operations against Iran, which began on February 28, had ended due to considerations related to the War Powers Resolution. Meanwhile, Reuters cited a senior Trump administration official as saying that the ceasefire with Iran, which took effect in April, had concluded hostilities between the two sides, particularly in the context of the War Powers Resolution.

Trump had until Friday to end the war with Iran or provide justification to Congress for extending it, but the deadline is likely to pass without altering the course of the conflict. Explaining the administration’s position, the official said, “Regarding the War Powers Resolution, the combat operations that began on Saturday, February 28, have ended.” The official added to Reuters that there had been no exchange of fire between U.S. armed forces and Iran since the fragile ceasefire began more than three weeks ago.

Analysts and congressional aides had previously indicated they expected Trump to notify Congress of his intention to extend operations for 30 days or to ignore the deadline, given that the administration views the ceasefire as marking the end of the conflict. The 1973 War Powers Resolution allows the president 60 days to conduct military operations before seeking congressional authorization or requesting a 30-day extension based on an unavoidable military necessity related to the safety of U.S. armed forces.

The conflict with Iran began on February 28 with air strikes carried out by Israel and the United States. Trump formally notified Congress of the war 48 hours later, meaning the 60-day deadline would expire on May 1.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Senate hearing on Thursday that, in his understanding, the 60-day clock stopped during the ceasefire. Democrats objected to this interpretation, stating there is no legal basis for such a pause.

The U.S. Constitution grants Congress, not the president, the sole authority to declare war. However, this restriction does not apply to operations that the administration classifies as short-term or aimed at addressing a direct threat. Trump’s Republican Party holds a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress. Since the start of the war, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to pass resolutions forcing Trump to withdraw U.S. forces or obtain congressional authorization, but Republicans have consistently blocked these efforts.