President Donald Trump on Friday told Congress that the Iran war had already ended ahead of the 60-day limit for him to pursue the military conflict without authorization from Congress.

Politico reported that Trump sent a letter to Congress explaining that the conflict had "terminated" and that the ongoing ceasefire between Tehran and Washington had eliminated the need for congressional authorization.

Constitutionally, a president must seek the approval of Congress to formally declare war, though U.S. leaders have in recent decades ignored this formality and instead sought more limited authorizations of force. A president may pursue military action within a 60-day timeframe without support from Congress.

The current conflict began in late February, with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that took out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. With the 60-day deadline fast approaching, it remains unclear whether Congress will authorize an extension or demand that Trump withdraw from the conflict.

Notably, peace talks in Pakistan have failed to result in a formal deal and both governments remain at loggerheads over war aims. Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions, while Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in a public statement on Friday, vowed to defend Iran's nuclear program.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.