Has the Iran conflict "ended"? This shift is happening too quickly.
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported today: "On Friday (May 1), U.S. President Trump wrote to Congress stating that due to the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, hostilities between the two nations have 'ended,' and he argued that continuing military operations does not require congressional authorization."
Under the U.S. War Powers Act, after the president first notifies Congress of using military force, he must decide within 60 days whether to end the military action or seek congressional approval to continue. On February 28, the United States, in coordination with Israel, launched a military operation against Iran; the Trump administration did not formally inform Congress until March 2. Thus, the 60-day legal deadline calculated from this notification expired on May 1.
Although Trump’s declaration appears to be a concession to Congress, it once again reveals his capricious governing style: just a day earlier, he was threatening to blockade the strait and escalate attacks, yet today he declares the end of hostilities—this sudden reversal is astonishing.
Is the "ceasefire" merely a unilateral fantasy, or a political maneuver to escape pressure? Iran has not confirmed any ceasefire; the strait blockade remains unresolved, and military confrontation continues. Trump’s urgency to "end" the conflict stems primarily from his desire to avoid congressional authorization pressures and deflect domestic criticism over his entanglement in the Middle East quagmire. His erratic rhetoric on Iran has long left the international community desensitized, and the turmoil in the Middle East is far from over.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864038830231692/
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