Iran war: Truce stops clock on Congress approval, says Trump's White House

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• A 60-day deadline for US congressional approval of the war runs out on Friday 
• A US official says the war has already ended because of the ceasefire with Iran
• Trump says 'probably' will pull US troops from Spain and Italy over their opposition to the war

Here is a selection of updates from or concerning the conflict between Iran, Israel and the US on May 1, 2026.

Skip next section Republicans largely back Trump, some demand Congress vote as deadline passes05/01/2026May 1, 2026

Republicans largely back Trump, some demand Congress vote as deadline passes

A deadline for the Trump administration to seek congressional approval for the Iran war or end the conflict looked set to pass on Friday without action from lawmakers.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday he doesn't plan to intervene or hold a vote to authorize force in Iran: "I'm listening carefully to what the members of our conference are saying, and at this point I don't see that," he said.

The Trump administration says it believes the law that obligates the president to seek congressional authorization after 60 days of conflict doesn't apply because hostilities with Iran were "terminated" by a ceasefire implemented on April 7.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said he would vote to authorize the war if President Donald Trump asked for it.

Several other Republicans, who initially backed limited action against Tehran, have said they would like to see Congress have a say on a longer operation.

Utah's John Curtis said the 60-day deadline demands action and that he would not support more funding for the war without lawmakers' authorization.

"It is time for decision-making from both the administration and from Congress — and that can happen in league with one another, not in conflict," Curtis said.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said she will introduce a limited authorized use of military force if the administration does not present what she called a "credible plan."

"I do not believe we should engage in open-ended military action without clear accountability," Murkowski said. "Congress has a role."

Maine Senator Susan Collins, who on Thursday voted for the first time in favor of a Democrat resolution to end military action in Iran, said the 60-day deadline is "not a suggestion, it is a requirement."

"The president's authority as commander-in-chief is not without limits," she said.

The war and its connected costs has become increasingly unpopular, likely leaving some Republican lawmakers worried ahead of the mid-term elections coming up later this year.

https://p.dw.com/p/5D7MgSkip next section German tax cut on petrol, diesel seeks to ease impact of Iran war05/01/2026May 1, 2026

German tax cut on petrol, diesel seeks to ease impact of Iran war

A tax cut on petrol and diesel designed to ease rising fuel prices driven by the Iran war came into effect in Germany on Friday.

The tax rebate of €0.17 ($0.20) per liter was approved last month and is expected to stay in place until the end of June.

Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for the world's oil, has caused fuel prices to spike.

According to the German automobile association ADAC's gas station app, prices at the pump were below €2 ($2.35) in many parts of the country early on Friday, especially for E10 petrol and in some cases for diesel. 

Experts say it remains to be seen to be seen how quickly the tax cut will trickle down to consumers. The rebate only applies to fuel that left tank farms or refineries after midnight, not to the stocks already held by petrol stations. Gas stations are also not required to offer specific prices or discounts.

The German Fuel and Energy Association, has said, however, that the full tax cut would be passed on to customers.

Why Iran fuel crisis hits different in Europe than the US

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https://p.dw.com/p/5D7JRSkip next section Trump says 'probably' will pull troops from Spain, Italy05/01/2026May 1, 2026

Trump says 'probably' will pull troops from Spain, Italy

US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw American troops from Spain and Italy due to their criticism of the war with Iran.

"Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?" Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider such a move. "Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible."

It came a day after he said Washington was "studying and reviewing the possible reduction" of US troops in Germany.

The US president has lashed out at NATO allies for failing to help with the US-Israeli operation against Iran and for not sending their navies to open the Strait of Hormuz, which has essentially been closed by Tehran since the start of the war. 

Last week, a report said the US was considering suspending Spain from the military alliance as part of a range of possible measures to punish allies viewed as uncooperative.

As of December 2025, there were about 36,400 American troops based in Germany, as well as 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5D7CUSkip next section US official says truce already 'terminated' conflict 05/01/2026May 1, 2026

US official says truce already 'terminated' conflict

The Trump administration says a ceasefire in place since early April means the war with Iran has already ended for the purposes of an approaching congressional approval deadline.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president can wage military action for 60 days before ending hostilities or seeking authorization from Congress.

The Iran war began with US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict 48 hours later, meaning the 60-day deadline would be May 1. The resolution also allows the deadline to be extended by 30 days.

A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had been no exchange of fire between US and Iranian forces since the ceasefire that began a little over three weeks ago.

"For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, ​February 28, have terminated," the official added, a position that means Trump would not have to seek congressional approval.

The statement came after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a hearing in the Senate that it was the administration's "understanding" that the ceasefire paused the 60-day clock. Democrats have disputed that interpretation, saying there are no legal grounds for such a pause.

Earlier, analysts had said they expected Trump to either disregard the deadline or notify Congress that he wanted a 30-day extension.

The ceasefire with Tehran has largely been holding, although Iran maintains its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy continues to blockade Iranian ports.

https://p.dw.com/p/5D7CPSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/01/2026May 1, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Natalie Muller | Alex Berry Editor

Hello and thanks for joining us. Here's a quick recap of what happened on Thursday:

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of questioning before the House Armed Services Committee over his handling of the Iran war.

Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said his country stands ready to contribute militarily to securing the Strait of Hormuz "if the relevant conditions are met," adding that Iran must come to the negotiating table and stop holding "the entire world hostage."

Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who took up the role after his father’s death in US-Israeli airstrikes, issued a statement saying Iran intended to both maintain a nuclear program and impose "new legal frameworks and management" for Hormuz, possibly including tolls.

Iran's president said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports was in violation of international law and was doomed to fail.

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