US Defense Secretary says' 60 day deadline 'has' suspended'

Washington, April 30 (Xinhua) -- US Defense Secretary Hergeseth testified before Congress on April 30 that the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which took effect on April 8, means that President Trump's 60 day legal deadline for military action against Iran has been "suspended or suspended," and the Trump administration does not need to seek congressional authorization for military action against Iran at this time.

 

According to the War Powers Act passed by the United States in 1973, the President shall decide within 60 days after first notifying Congress of the use of military force to cease the military operation or seek authorization from Congress to continue the operation. The Trump administration officially informed Congress on March 2 to launch military action against Iran, and the 60 day legal deadline calculated from this will expire on May 1.

 

After attending a hearing in the House of Representatives on the 29th, Hegesi attended a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the 2027 fiscal year military budget proposal on the 30th, once again accepting public questioning on the US military action against Iran. In response to a question from Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, Hogarth said, "We are currently in a ceasefire state, and according to our understanding, a ceasefire means that the 60 day countdown will be suspended or suspended." Kaine retorted, "I don't think the relevant regulations will support this interpretation

 

Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, stated in an interview with NBC on the same day that there is no need for Congress to intervene in the US military action against Iran because the US is currently "not in a state of war" and he does not believe that "substantial military bombings, exchanges of fire, or similar actions" are currently underway.

 

However, after the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, the United States imposed a maritime blockade on Iran. Iranian President Pezehezhian said on the 30th that this is a continuation of military action.

 

After the United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on February 28, several Democratic lawmakers spoke out, criticizing the operation as "illegal" without congressional authorization. Senate Democrats have pushed five times for a vote on a bill to limit the president's war powers, demanding that Trump end military action against Iran and obtain congressional authorization before taking further military action against Iran. However, due to the Republican Party's majority in the Senate, the bills were not passed.

 

Some Republicans also advocate that military actions against Iran should comply with the legally prescribed deadlines. Republican Senator John Curtis has stated that without congressional approval, he "will not support continuing military action beyond the 60 day deadline.

 

(Editor in charge: Zhu Xiaohang)