House Speaker Mike Johnson says the U.S. is 'not at war' with Iran as White House approaches 60-day deadline

Key Points:

• House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Congress does not need to authorize the Trump administration’s military action in Iran, emphasizing that the U.S. is "not at war" and is currently seeking to broker peace.
• The ongoing conflict with Iran is approaching the 60-day limit set by the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires presidential withdrawal of forces or congressional authorization, but Johnson argued that the situation does not constitute active war.
• Administration officials and Capitol Hill leaders are in active discussions about handling the 60-day deadline, with some viewing the current ceasefire as pausing the War Powers clock, though this interpretation is disputed by some lawmakers.
• White House officials maintain that President Trump has been transparent with Congress through multiple briefings and emphasizes diplomacy, while Trump himself has used varying language about the conflict, sometimes calling it a war and other times downplaying that characterization.
• Military leaders have given no indication that the U.S. military operation in Iran will end soon, as reflected in recent testimony before the House Armed Services Committee regarding the 2027 budget request.