Iran Has Said War Is 'Possibly' to Resume

The Iranian Armed Forces have said that there is a "likelihood" of war resuming with Israel and the United States. They attributed this possibility to Washington's lack of sincerity in reaching a permanent agreement.

In a statement published by Iran's Fars News Agency, Mohammad Jafar Asadi, the Deputy Chief of Military Headquarters, said that the actions and words of U.S. officials are essentially media narratives. He claimed their primary objective is to prevent a collapse in oil prices and their secondary goal is to rescue themselves from a negative situation.

Asadi argued that Washington’s recent actions prove the United States is not committed to any treaty or peace settlement.

Issuing a warning, he stated that it would be nothing short of foolishness if the American armed forces were to conduct new operations against Iran, adding that Tehran is fully prepared for such an eventuality.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has opened a land trade route with Iran despite the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. This move creates a vital corridor for the movement of goods to and from Tehran.

The decision is viewed as a much-needed relief for the economies of both the nations. Land trade between Tehran and Islamabad had been suspended following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on February 28.

Analysts believe this move will weaken Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. Conversely, it could also have a negative impact on the Islamabad-mediated talks currently underway to end the war.

The U.S. administration has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.

War Situation with Iran Over: Trump's Letter to Congress

President Donald Trump has informed the U.S. Congress that the ongoing state of war with Iran has concluded. The conflict, which began in February, is currently undergoing a month-long ceasefire.

Capitalizing on this ceasefire, Trump claimed that he is no longer legally obligated to seek fresh congressional authorization for the war, as the statutory deadline has expired.

According to the U.S. War Powers Act of 1973, it is mandatory for the President to obtain congressional approval within 60 days of declaring military action. Otherwise, the hostilities must cease.

Friday marked the final day of that 60-day window for Trump. However, in a letter sent to congressional leaders, Trump argued that since there has been no exchange of fire with Iran since April 7, the war has effectively ended for now.

His logic suggests that because a ceasefire is in place, the 60-day statutory "clock" has stopped ticking.

Opponents, however, refuse to accept Trump's interpretation. Democrat Senator Tim Kaine stated that this argument does not hold up legally.

Heather Brandon-Smith, a law professor at Georgetown University, also believes that a mere ceasefire does not stop the clock. In her view, the legal obligation remains in effect until there is a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Douglas Silliman, former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and Iraq, took a similar stance. He said President Trump is seeking "excuses" to bypass the need for congressional approval for the war with Iran.

According to him, while the War Powers Resolution of 1973 makes congressional permission mandatory for this war, Trump is strategically evading it.

While the majority of Republicans support Trump, many have hinted at a shift in stance now that the 60-day limit has passed.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched massive strikes on Iran centered around its nuclear program. The Supreme Leader of Iran was killed in the attack. In retaliation, Iran launched counter-attacks against Israel and U.S. allies in the Gulf region.