The approaching deadline may make it difficult for Trump to continue the war with Iran

President Donald Trump Ordered the US Navy to use lethal force against any threat to shipping lanes. “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill every boat, however small they may be, which lays mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump stated in an official release. He added in a firm tone that “there must not be any hesitation”, and claimed that the naval capabilities of the opponent had already suffered a fatal blow: “Their naval ships – all of them, 159 in number – are at the bottom of the sea!“. In addition, The President instructed to triple the mine clearing efforts in the area, When he ordered to continue the activity “at a triple level than the existing one!“.

Along with the military moves, Trump harshly attacked Iran’s leadership and claimed that the country is in internal political chaos that prevents it from making decisions. “Iran is having trouble understanding who is leading it!” wrote the president, describing what is happening in Tehran as “an internal fight between the extremists who lost big on the battlefield, and the moderates who are not moderate at all.” Trump defined the situation as “crazy!” And he claimed that while the extremists are defeated, those who are considered moderate are only trying to “earn respect”, which creates a complete governmental paralysis in the Islamic Republic.

The publication he shared read: “If there are two factions in Iran – one that wants an agreement and one that doesn’t, let’s kill the side that doesn’t.”

The president also made it clear that American control of the area is absolute and that the naval blockade will continue until the Iranian surrender. “We have absolute control over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump declared, adding an unequivocal warning to the international community and the regime in Tehran: “No ship can enter or leave without the permission of the US Navy, until Iran makes a deal!”.

The campaign in Iran has been going on for almost two months, and during that time Republican lawmakers in Congress have repelled repeated attempts by Democrats to stop the operation and force President Donald Trump to get congressional approval for the continuation of the war. But in about a week, on May 1, the 60 days that the law allegedly allows the president to use a certain military force without congressional approval will expire, and the New York Times reported that some Republican lawmakers are signaling that they will not support the continuation of the war after that date.

• During the war, Democrats tried five times to invoke a section of a 1973 law designed to limit the president’s ability to wage war without congressional approval.
• The New York Times reported that the White House and most Republicans in Congress believe that legally Trump had 60 days to use military force without congressional approval. The 60 days will expire on May 1st.
• Some Republicans have already signaled that they will not support an extension beyond 60 days. Congressman Brian Mast, chairman of the influential House Foreign Affairs Committee, said last week that “the balance of power may be different after 60 days,” after Republican lawmakers narrowly blocked a Democratic bid to constrain the president.

• According to the law, after the 60-day deadline has passed, the president’s options to continue a military campaign without congressional approval are reduced. At this point, Trump has three main options: ask Congress for permission to continue fighting, reduce the war, or grant himself an extension.
• The law allows the president to establish a one-time extension of 30 days to allow for the safe withdrawal of American forces – but the law does not grant the authority to continue conducting an offensive campaign, according to the New York Times.
• Alternatively, the president and Republican members of Congress could try to authorize Congress to continue the war. Congress has not voted to use force since 2002, when lawmakers approved action against Iraq, and it is unclear whether Trump will be able to muster a majority, despite Republican control of the legislature.
• A third option facing Trump is to simply ignore the law and continue the war. This is not an unprecedented step, as former President Barack Obama ignored a similar restriction in 2011 in Libya, and Trump himself ignored such a restriction in 2019 in Yemen.