Day 63: The 60-day legal deadline expires, Trump defies Congress

Sixty-three days after the start of American-Israeli strikes on Iran, May 1, 2026 marks a major legal deadline: that imposed by the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the president to obtain congressional approval after 60 days of unauthorized military engagement. Donald Trump chooses to ignore this obligation, relying on an unprecedented interpretation of the ceasefire. Meanwhile, a dual economic blockade is strangling the region, negotiations remain deadlocked over the nuclear issue, and executions of political prisoners continue inside Iran.

The War Powers Act bypassed: a constitutional precedent

The legal countdown began on March 2, 2026, the date Trump notified Congress of the start of hostilities under Operation Epic Fury. Under the War Powers Resolution, the president had to either obtain legislative authorization or withdraw American forces before the 60-day deadline expired — by Friday, May 1.

The Trump administration refuses both options. The White House and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth argue that the April 7 ceasefire “pauses or stops” the 60-day clock. “We are currently in a ceasefire, which our understanding is means the 60-day clock pauses or stops,” Hegseth told senators. Constitutional law scholars overwhelmingly contest this reading, arguing that the law contains no automatic suspension clause.

In the Senate, Democrats attempted to force implementation of the War Powers Resolution on April 30. The measure was defeated, with only two Republicans — Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky — voting in favor. Several Democratic lawmakers are now considering suing Trump if the war continues without formal authorization from Congress.

The dual blockade: Hormuz versus Iranian ports

Since mid-April, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has evolved into an unprecedented mirrored standoff. Iran has controlled maritime traffic in the strait since February 28, imposing tolls exceeding one million dollars per vessel since the failure of the Islamabad talks. In response, the U.S. Navy has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports since April 13.

This “dual blockade” is choking global energy flows. Brent crude reached $126.41 per barrel, its highest level in four years, while West Texas Intermediate settled at $110.31, up 3.4%. Demonstrators gathered worldwide for International Workers’ Day, demanding peace and denouncing the rising energy costs tied to the conflict.

Iran submitted a proposal to reopen the strait in exchange for lifting the American blockade on its ports, requesting that nuclear negotiations be postponed to a later stage. Washington rejected the offer: Trump, according to sources close to the White House, finds any proposal that does not include provisions on Iran’s nuclear program unacceptable.

Military signals: ceasefire under strain

The April 7 ceasefire, extended several times, does not mean peace on the ground. In the night of April 30 to May 1, Tehran’s air defenses were activated to counter small aircraft and unidentified drones. No casualties were reported, but the incident illustrates the fragility of the lull.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the American naval blockade “an extension of military operations” that he deems “intolerable.” For his part, Trump has not ruled out the possibility of resuming strikes, stating that Washington “might need” to restart the war. Israel’s defense minister also estimated that his country could “soon need to act again” against Iran.

The United Arab Emirates banned its citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq, and asked those already there to return home immediately — a sign of a perceived deterioration in regional security.

Humanitarian toll: 1,701 civilians killed, executions rising

According to human rights activists, at least 1,701 civilians have been killed since the start of the conflict, including 254 children. These figures are constantly rising, with NGOs struggling to document incidents in the most affected areas.

Inside Iran, the regime is intensifying its repression. The protest movement born in December 2025 — triggered by the collapse of the rial and the Grand Bazaar strike in Tehran — faced unprecedented crackdowns. Iran Human Rights NGO documents at least 648 protesters killed during the January 2026 repression. Executions of political prisoners continued in April: Erfan Kiani, a protester from the January uprising, was executed in Isfahan on April 25; Amer Ramesh, a Baluch political prisoner, on April 26. ECPM notes that 2025 already set a historical record with 1,639 documented executions.

The war provides a convenient smokescreen: executions, which have accelerated since the start of the conflict according to several NGOs, receive less international media attention as coverage focuses on military and diplomatic debates.

Negotiations deadlocked: the nuclear knot

Pakistani mediators facilitated only one formal round of negotiations since the ceasefire. Exchanges continue informally, but the fundamental divergence remains unresolved. Tehran wants to address the end of the blockade and definitive cessation of hostilities before tackling the nuclear file. Washington insists that nuclear issues must be at the core of any agreement.

Retired General Mark Kimmitt publicly estimated that military pressure alone is “unlikely to force Iran to make concessions.” The war has already cost the United States $25 billion according to the Pentagon — and there is currently no exit timeline.

Key takeaways

Legal deadline ignored: Trump refuses to submit war authorization to Congress, invoking the ceasefire as a pause in the deadline. A legal challenge is being considered by Democratic lawmakers.
Dual blockade: Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz are both under restrictions, driving oil to record levels.
Threat of resumed strikes: Trump and Israel have not ruled out a new military escalation.
Internal repression: executions of protesters and political prisoners continue, with the war context reducing international media coverage.
Negotiations at an impasse: disagreement over the sequencing of nuclear discussions blocks all diplomatic progress.