Trump Tells Congress Iran War Hostilities Have ‘Terminated’

US President Donald Trump on Friday told Congress the Iran war has ended.

In letters to top Republicans in the House and Senate, Trump said a weekslong ceasefire remains in place and that there’s been no more fighting.

“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 said in letters to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

At the same time, Trump said the US military “continues to update its force posture” in the region in response to Iranian threats. He told reporters on Friday the US Navy is maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The letter is less about the war actually changing than the Trump administration trying to comply with the War Powers Resolution, a 1973 law that requires hostilities to cease within 60 days if Congress hasn’t authorised the use of force. Several Republicans in the House and Senate have warned about the 60-day deadline while voting against Democrats’ repeated attempts to end the war. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday became the second Senate Republican to vote for an antiwar resolution as the deadline approached.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Friday called the letter “bullshit” in a post on social media.

“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.

Trump’s main audience is likely Republicans. It’s unclear how his claim that the war has ended will go over if the US maintains a naval blockade. The president said earlier Friday that the blockade is still on.

“We’re on our way to another victory, a big victory, and I don’t think that it’s constitutional what they’re asking for,” Trump said, referring to lawmakers’ demands Trump consult Congress on the war.

“These are not patriotic people that are asking, you know, when they say— even the losers, even the ones that say all the wrong things, admit that it’s been amazing what we’ve done,” Trump told reporters on Friday. “The strait is totally shut down. It’s flawless. It’s totally 100% shut down now.”

Under international law, a naval blockade is an act of war.

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.