The White House notified the US Congress that it considers the military operation against Iran to be over.
“Military operations that began on February 28, 2026, have ended“, said a message sent by US President Donald Trump to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
In a letter and a secret memorandum to congressional leaders, the president stated that “hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have ceased“, referring to the currently in force ceasefire with Tehran.
The notification was sent on the very day the 60-day deadline (May 1), after which the president must legally obtain explicit congressional approval to continue military action.
By declaring the operation over, the White House avoids the need for a vote in the legislature.“Reset the Clock“.
This would allow the United States to resume strikes later as part of a new operation (for example, under the proposed name “Epic Transition“), without being limited by the previous deadline.
The Democratic opposition disputes this interpretation, arguing that the law does not provide for “stopping the clock“ during a ceasefire and that the administration is illegally attempting to circumvent constitutional oversight by Congress.
The military campaign, known as Operation “Epic Fury“ (Operation Epic Fury), began in late February 2026 with the aim of destroying Iran's nuclear and missile facilities. The situation currently remains in a state of “dual blockade”, with the US blocking Iran at sea and Tehran restricting shipping in the Persian Gulf.