President Donald Trump sent a formal notice to Congress last week that he had directed the U.S. military to resume strikes against Iran under the War Powers Act, triggering a new 60-day window for military actions to take place without congressional approval.
He noted that the strikes targeted Iranian missile launch sites, air defense systems, military maritime assets, military support infrastructure, and command and control capabilities.
“United States ground forces are not involved in these strikes. These strikes are limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties,” the president wrote.
Trump said the renewed strikes are “focused on military capabilities posing a threat to United States Armed Forces in the region, protecting the United States homeland, advancing United States national interests, securing safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and defending our regional allies and partners.”
They come after earlier rounds of U.S. military action, for which Trump also notified Congress, on June 11, June 12, and June 29 in accordance with the War Powers Resolution.
Under the War Powers Act of 1973, the president is required to report to Congress within 48 hours of deploying U.S. forces into hostilities. Congress then has 60 days to authorize the action or order its termination.
Trump said in a June 24 post that the Senate’s action “puts Iran on notice!”
The vote came just days after the Trump administration signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran on June 17, which included an immediate ceasefire and continuing negotiations for a longer-lasting diplomatic resolution to the current standoff.
Ryan Morgan contributed to this report.
