Hegseth warns Congress not required to resume Iran strikes

The United States conducted military strikes against Iran in an earlier phase of the current conflict, after which a ceasefire was reached. The question of presidential war powers versus congressional authorization under the War Powers Resolution has been a recurring legal and political dispute across administrations, particularly in conflicts not formally declared by Congress. The Iran conflict has prompted growing legislative scrutiny over costs, duration, and diplomatic strategy, including the potential role of China as a mediating party. With the administration signaling openness to resuming strikes and Trump publicly questioning the ceasefire's durability, the tension between executive military authority and congressional oversight has moved to the center of the policy debate.