Trump Officially Notifies Congress of Renewed Military Actions Against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump formally informed Congress about the resumption of hostilities with Iran following defensive strikes by American forces inside the Islamic Republic on July 7. The notification, revealed by The New York Times, reignited the longstanding debate over the president's war powers, as Congress had previously demanded an end to military actions or formal approval for their continuation. The White House maintains that Trump acted within his constitutional authority as commander-in-chief, allowing him to order such strikes without additional congressional consent.

This announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the region and deep political divisions within the United States regarding the scope of military involvement and presidential authority. Earlier on the same day, Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz open and vowed it would remain so with or without Iran, announcing a 20% surcharge on all cargo passing through the strait to cover security costs. The U.S. military stated that this blockade would commence at 11 p.m. Israel time the following day.

Iran responded sharply through Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who sarcastically agreed that safe passage should be compensated but criticized the 20% fee as excessive, promising Iran would be fair. On the ground, the U.S. Navy is actively escorting about 20 commercial vessels daily near the Strait of Hormuz, while American strikes continue targeting Revolutionary Guard military assets such as air defenses, radars, and attack boats to degrade Iran's ability to threaten maritime freedom.

The renewed conflict and U.S. actions have intensified the legal and political struggle between the executive branch and Congress over war authorization, with many lawmakers fearing escalation into a broader war.