WASHINGTON — The Trump administration declared Friday that the war in Iran ended with an April 7 ceasefire and invoked the War Powers Resolution's 30-day extension to maintain a U.S. Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Friday marked 60 days since Operation Epic Fury against Iran began on Feb. 28, the deadline under the War Powers Resolution for President Donald Trump to seek congressional authorization or cease fighting.

"The hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated," a senior administration official said. The U.S. military and Iran have not exchanged fire since the two-week ceasefire that began April 7, and the administration has been in active talks with Iran on a more permanent end to the war.

The U.S. Navy is maintaining a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran's oil tankers from leaving. Iran continues to control the strait. Trump has imposed the blockade on Iranian ships traversing it.

The War Powers Act of 1973 allows presidents to extend military action for 30 days to safely withdraw U.S. forces but prohibits continuation of an offensive campaign without congressional authorization. The defense secretary claimed the 60-day clock stopped running after Trump announced the military cease-fire on April 7.

Katherine Yon Ebright, counsel at the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program, disputed that interpretation. "To be very, very clear and unambiguous, nothing in the text or design of the War Powers Resolution suggests that the 60-day clock can be paused or terminated." she said.

Sen. Susan Collins called for adherence to the statutory timeline. "That deadline is not a suggestion; it is a requirement," she said. "Further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close," Collins added.

Top congressional lawmakers set aside the deadline to reauthorize the war. The House Speaker questioned whether congressional reauthorization was necessary, said he did not think there was any active bombing or kinetic military action in Iran, and said the ongoing cease-fire nullifies the need for congressional authorization for continued military action.

Other presidents have argued that their military actions were not intense enough or were too intermittent to qualify under the War Powers Resolution.