'No timeouts' in war, Sen Jack Reed tells ABC as Trump weighs Iran deal without Congress

WASHINGTON, DC: The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Jack Reed, on Sunday, May 3, accused President Donald Trump of exceeding his legal authority in the conflict with Iran, challenging the administration’s interpretation of the War Powers Act amid an ongoing ceasefire.

Reed said on ABC’s 'This Week' that the administration cannot treat the current pause in fighting as a suspension of the statutory clock governing military action without congressional approval.

The criticism comes as the White House maintains that its blockade strategy is increasing pressure on Tehran, and Trump reviews a new Iranian proposal aimed at ending the war.

Jack Reed challenges White House's interpretation of War Powers act

Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the Trump administration’s legal justification for continuing military operations linked to Iran without congressional authorization was inconsistent with federal law.

Responding to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s argument that the ceasefire constituted a “pause” in the 60-day period allowed under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Reed rejected that interpretation. 

“The language of the statute does not provide for timeouts like in a football game,” Reed said. “The president has to comply with the law.”

Reed said the War Powers Act allows for an additional 30-day extension only if the administration formally requests more time to ensure a safe withdrawal of US forces.

According to Reed, no such request has been submitted to Congress. “We have to be notified. No such notifications come through. The president’s ignoring the law,” he said.

Trump sent a letter to congressional leaders on Friday stating that hostilities had “terminated” with the start of the ceasefire, reinforcing the administration’s position that the statutory timeline had effectively ended.

Reed contrasted Trump’s approach with that of former President George W Bush, saying that although he opposed the Iraq War, Bush had sought congressional authorization, which Reed said gave the operation political legitimacy.

Trump reviews Iran proposal as ceasefire talks continue

Trump said on Saturday that he was reviewing a new Iranian proposal aimed at formally ending the conflict, though he signaled skepticism over whether the terms would be acceptable.

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Speaking to reporters earlier at Palm Beach International Airport, Trump said he was waiting for the final language of the proposal before making a decision.

“They told me about the concept of the deal,” Trump said. “They’re going to give me the exact wording now.”

The Iranian proposal reportedly includes provisions to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and end the US naval blockade, while delaying negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program for a later stage.