U.S. President Trump [UPI Yonhap News]

On the 1st (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that the attack on Iran had "concluded" and stated his position that the conflict did not violate the 60-day period allowed for foreign military action without congressional approval.

According to the Associated Press, President Trump wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican) and President pro tempore Chuck Grassley (Republican) that "hostilities that commenced on February 28, 2026, have terminated."

President Trump also added, "Despite the success of U.S. operations against the Iranian regime and our efforts to secure lasting peace, the threats posed by Iran to the United States and our armed forces remain serious."

President Trump's message that hostilities with Iran have already "concluded" is interpreted as a move to effectively circumvent the 60-day statutory deadline for using foreign military force without congressional approval. It is understood that President Trump clarified his position that he does not need to obtain congressional approval by this date, which would otherwise be required to continue the war beyond the initial 60 days from the start of hostilities.

The assertion that hostilities have concluded is interpreted to mean that an unstable ceasefire with Iran has been in place since early last month. The claim is that the "60-day clock" also stopped at the commencement of the ceasefire.

When meeting with reporters on this day, President Trump stated regarding the War Powers Resolution, which limits foreign military action without congressional approval to 60 days, "All previous presidents have considered this completely unconstitutional, and we agree. This law has never been applied. Why should we be an exception?"

He also said, "We are in a ceasefire, and because of that, we were able to buy additional time."

Earlier, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses had argued at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing the previous day that the 60-day deadline, which was to arrive on this date, could not include the current period of ceasefire, thus claiming the deadline had not yet been reached.

The Associated Press reported that while the vast majority of Democratic lawmakers in Congress oppose President Trump's assertion, a strong sentiment among the majority of Republican lawmakers is to give President Trump more time for now.