Your support helps us to tell the story Read more Support Now From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more

Just hours before a crucial deadline, the Trump administration argued the war in Iran has been effectively “terminated” under the ongoing ceasefire, which, the claim also stops the clock on a crucial deadline for congressional approval of ongoing actions in the conflict.

Under the War Powers Resolution, President Donald Trump faced a 60-day clock — expiring Friday, May 1 — to either end the war in Iran or secure congressional approval to continue. Now, a senior administration official tells the Associated Press the U.S. and Iran haven’t exchanged fire since April 7, and that the hostilities have been “terminated.”

A U.S. official also told Reuters: "For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February ​28, have terminated.”

Earlier Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the 60-day clock was paused under the ceasefire.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump's war with Iran began February 28. Now, his administration has argued the hostilities have been effectively 'terminated' ( AFP via Getty Images )

“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” he said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

“I do not believe the statute would support that,” Democratic Senator Tim Kaine replied. “I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and it’s going to pose a really important legal question for the administration there.”

Senate Democrats also tried — and failed — for a sixth time to end the Iran war by forcing a War Powers Resolution vote Thursday.

“After two months of war, 13 service members’ lives lost, and billions of dollars squandered, it is time we recognized that the price we have paid is already too high. We must say no to this unauthorized war of choice,” Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said in a statement.

Republican Senators Susan Collins and Rand Paul joined nearly every Democrat in supporting the measure.

open image in gallery Trump said Thursday the U.S. ‘already won’ the war in Iran, while Hegseth argued the 60-day clock was paused under the ceasefire ( AFP via Getty Images )

“The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace, and the War Powers Act establishes a clear 60-day deadline for Congress to either authorize or end U.S. involvement in foreign hostilities,” Collins said in a statement. “That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement.”

Still, many Republicans continue to defend Trump’s war with Iran. The president has “the right to use the military to defend the freedom of this country,” Republican Senator Rick Scott told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Thursday night.

When pressed about the cost of the war, Scott replied: "How do you put a price tag on limiting somebody’s ability to kill you?”

The president has also claimed the U.S. “already won” the war with Iran.

“We’ve already won, but I want to win by a bigger margin,” Trump told Newsmax’s Greta Van Susteren Thursday.

“But we have. We have destroyed their navy, destroyed their air force, destroyed all of their — if you look at their anti-aircraft equipment, their radar equipment, their leadership, their leadership is destroyed,” he continued.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.