As the 60-day deadline approaches... Will Trump bypass Congress to extend the war against Iran?

Political circles in Washington are awaiting the expiration of the legal deadline set by US President Donald Trump to end military operations against Iran, scheduled for Friday. The White House finds itself facing two options: either resorting to Congress to request a formal extension, or facing legal complications related to constitutional war powers.

Analysts and sources within Congress believe that the currently stalemated conflict will not see a radical change with the passing of this deadline. Trump is likely to notify lawmakers of his intention to extend the deadline for an additional 30 days, or he may ignore the deadline entirely, considering the current ceasefire to be the de facto end of the war.

The issue of war powers has become a subject of fierce partisan debate between the two political poles in the United States. While Democrats insist on the necessity of Congress reclaiming its constitutional right to declare wars, Republicans accuse the opposition of trying to weaken the powers of the Commander-in-Chief at a sensitive time.

Sources reported that the US administration is holding active talks with members of Congress to secure political cover for the upcoming steps. A White House official warned that attempts to strip the president of military decision-making power could undermine the effectiveness of the US military in foreign missions.

Despite repeated attempts by Democrats to pass resolutions forcing the president to withdraw troops, the slim Republican majority in both the Senate and House prevented this. Republican lawmakers vote almost unanimously in favor of Trump's policies, rejecting any move that might limit his military options.

Should widespread fighting resume, Trump has a legal option to start a new 60-day period, a tactic used by previous presidents from both parties. This measure is based on loopholes in the War Powers Act passed in the 1970s in response to the repercussions of the Vietnam War.

Christopher Preble, a researcher at the Stimson Center, explained that partisan affiliation has become the primary driver of positions within Washington. He noted that Republicans categorically refuse to challenge the president's decisions, giving him wide room for maneuver away from strict legislative oversight.

The US Constitution explicitly states that the power to declare war is vested in Congress, but practical application has exempted short-term operations. Successive administrations claim that confronting immediate threats gives the president the right to take military action without waiting for prior approval from lawmakers.

However, timid Republican voices have begun to emerge, calling for a return to Congress, with Senator John Curtis hinting that he might reconsider his position. Curtis stated that despite his support for current operations, he would not accept the continuation of military action beyond the specified deadline without formal authorization.

For his part, Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune stated that reaching a peace agreement with Tehran remains the ideal goal. However, he did not rule out the possibility of a vote in the Senate to grant the president formal authorization to use military force if necessary.

In contrast, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer launched a sharp attack on the administration's policies, describing Trump's handling of the crisis as 'catastrophic'. Schumer noted that the economic consequences of the war are clearly emerging through the sharp rise in fuel and essential commodity prices.

Schumer questioned in a speech before the Senate how many resolutions must be introduced before Republicans realize the need to correct course. He stressed that the American people are suffering from the consequences of this conflict, emphasizing the need to end the unilateral decision-making on war and peace.

It is worth noting that the aggression led by the United States began on February 28, and since then the countdown to the legal deadline has begun. Under the 1973 law, the president must provide compelling military justifications related to troop safety if he wishes to extend operations beyond the initial sixty-day period.

Republicans refuse to challenge the president, while Democrats believe Trump's handling of this war is catastrophic for the American people.