The 60-day clock mandated by the War Powers Resolution expired Friday, marking a legal threshold that requires the president to either obtain congressional authorization or cease military operations. The deadline arrives amid ongoing U.S. military engagement related to Iran, raising questions about the constitutional boundaries of presidential war-making authority.

Senate Republicans moved to block a resolution that would have compelled an end to hostilities, deferring instead to President Trump's handling of the situation. The vote underscored deep partisan divisions over how Congress should exercise its war powers prerogatives, with most Republican lawmakers signaling confidence in the administration's approach rather than demanding a formal authorization vote.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that the United States is not at war with Iran, a framing the White House has used to argue that the War Powers clock may not apply. Pentagon officials, testifying before a Senate hearing, similarly avoided acknowledging that a conflict triggering the resolution's requirements is underway. Defense Secretary Hegseth addressed the issue without conceding that congressional authorization is legally required.

Separately, Trump administration officials have indicated that diplomatic negotiations with Iran remain active, with the president publicly stating he is attempting to reach a negotiated settlement rather than pursue a full military campaign. Oil markets have reacted to the uncertainty, with prices fluctuating as traders assess the risk of an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.

Legal scholars and war powers advocates argue that regardless of how the administration characterizes the operations, the statutory deadline is self-executing and obligates Congress to act. Critics of the Republican position contend that blocking the resolution effectively ratifies military action without the formal declaration or authorization the Constitution envisions. The standoff leaves the legal status of the operations unresolved as negotiations and military posturing continue simultaneously.