Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump to Justify His Claim that Hostilities in Iran Have Ended

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump to Justify His Claim that Hostilities in Iran Have Ended

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in refuting the Trump administration's claim to Congress that the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, in Iran have "terminated" and requested President Trump release the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion supporting his claim.

The senators emphasize the already unconstitutional war in Iran has violated its 60-day statutory deadline set by the War Powers Act and argue that the ongoing naval operations, bombings, blockades, and strike campaigns that have continued since late February constitute hostilities.

"Furthermore, the United States and Iran, and their associated partners and proxies, have continued to use lethal force in contravention of the ceasefire, which also constitute hostilities. Finally, U.S. forces remain postured for, and you have regularly threatened, the swift return of major combat operations," the senators wrote in their letter to President Donald Trump

The lawmakers point out that the current deployment of troops, ongoing strikes, and an active naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz contradict the claim that hostilities have ended after the April 7 ceasefire. The senators have previously forced numerous votes in the Senate on the War Powers Resolution, including asserting the 60-day statutory clock, triggered by a notification to Congress, had run out on Trump's ongoing use of military force, while also being unconstitutional from the start.

"Your administration has not explained to the Congress or the American people why you believe the Constitution permits launching a war of this magnitude - including the loss of U.S. service members' lives, scores of civilians killed in Iran and the broader region, and staggering economic and geopolitical costs - without authorization from Congress as Article I requires...It is imperative that you publish the OLC legal theory underlying your interpretation to the contrary in a timely manner," the senators concluded.

The letter was led by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai'i, Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

The full letter is here.