Trump Officially Notifies Congress of Renewed US Military Actions Against Iran

On July 7, US forces conducted defensive strikes against targets inside Iran, President Donald Trump officially informed Congress in a letter sent on Friday and reported by the New York Times on Monday. This notification reignites the ongoing dispute between Capitol Hill and the White House over the president's authority to continue military operations in Iran without congressional approval. Both chambers of Congress have passed resolutions demanding that the president either end the conflict or seek their authorization to proceed. However, the White House maintains that Trump is acting within his constitutional powers as commander-in-chief.

In a Fox News interview, President Trump declared that the US is taking control of the Strait of Hormuz, citing a broken deal with Iran and labeling Iranian leaders as "a bad group." He announced plans to impose a 20% transit fee on all cargo passing through the strait, framing it as a matter of fairness. Following these statements, the US Navy-led Combined Maritime Forces announced that a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would commence at 23:00 Israel time the next day. The blockade will cover the entire Iranian coastline, including ports and oil terminals, effectively tightening US maritime control in the region.