Donald Trump formally notified Congress that fighting with Iran resumed on July 7. The White House says the move starts a fresh 60-day military authority period. The notification lays out the administration’s view of the renewed conflict and explains why military action continued without prior congressional approval.
Donald Trump told Congress the renewed Iran conflict began July 7 after Hormuz attacks
In a July 10 letter obtained by Reuters, Trump informed lawmakers that hostilities resumed on July 7 after Iran attacked commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. He said those actions violated the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, leaving the U.S. with no choice but to launch new military strikes.
In a statement, Donald Trump said he authorized the military action as part of his duty to safeguard Americans and protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The White House also argued that the latest escalation effectively resets the clock under its legal interpretation, giving the administration another 60-day window to continue military operations without seeking fresh authorization from Congress.
The military action has also kicked off a fresh fight in Washington. Under the War Powers Act, a president must inform Congress within 48 hours of launching military action, and operations usually can’t continue beyond 60 days without lawmakers signing off. The White House says the earlier ceasefire closed out that timeline, so the limit no longer applies.
The letter also reviews earlier developments in the conflict. It notes that Trump ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, later extending it while his administration pursued diplomacy. According to the White House, the conflict entered a new stage after Iran allegedly breached the agreement through attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway. On Monday, Trump also announced that the U.S. would reinstate its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and keep the Strait of Hormuz open as fighting continued.
