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Donald Trump sends letter to Congress stating war with Iran has 'concluded'

From El Nacional · (11m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress stating the war with Iran has concluded.
  • The letter coincides with the deadline for the executive branch to request congressional approval for troop deployment in the Middle East.
  • Trump cited the cessation of direct hostilities since April 7, 2026, and questioned the constitutionality of the War Powers Act.

In a move that has significant implications for US foreign policy and congressional oversight, President Donald Trump has declared the "conclusion" of the war with Iran via a letter to lawmakers. This declaration, timed precisely with the legal deadline for seeking congressional authorization for continued troop presence in the Middle East, signals the administration's intent to bypass further legislative debate on military operations in the region. El Nacional reports on this development, highlighting the administration's argument that the current ceasefire effectively resets the clock under the War Powers Act.

No ha habido intercambio de fuego entre EE UU e Irรกn desde el 7 de abril de 2026

โ€” Donald TrumpStating the basis for his declaration that the war with Iran has concluded.

The White House, through statements from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the President himself, asserts that the absence of direct fire exchange since April 7, 2026, renders the need for congressional approval moot. This interpretation challenges the traditional understanding of the War Powers Act, a law enacted to limit the president's ability to engage in military conflicts without congressional consent. Trump's questioning of the Act's constitutionality further underscores his administration's broader skepticism towards established checks and balances on executive power, particularly in matters of national security and foreign intervention.

El mandatario fundamenta su declaraciรณn en el cese de las hostilidades directas.

โ€” El NacionalExplaining Trump's reasoning for declaring the war over.

This strategic move by the Trump administration appears designed to neutralize demands from the Democratic wing of Congress, which has been pushing to reassert legislative control over military actions in the Middle East. By framing the conflict as concluded and challenging the legal framework that necessitates congressional approval, the President aims to consolidate his authority over ongoing operations. From the perspective of those in Venezuela following US policy, this development is a clear indication of the Trump administration's unilateral approach to foreign affairs and its willingness to test the boundaries of constitutional norms.

โ€œSiempre estamos en contacto con el Congreso, pero nadie lo ha solicitado nunca antes (โ€ฆ) ยฟPor quรฉ deberรญamos ser diferentes?โ€

โ€” Donald TrumpQuestioning the necessity of formally requesting congressional approval under the War Powers Act.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.