White House Submits Iran War Powers Report to Congress

On March 2, President Trump submitted his war powers report notifying Congress of the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli joint strikes he authorized against Iran. The report comes a few days after the military action that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. President Trump’s report does not address why the military carried out the attack without prior congressional authorization. 

The war powers report references threats posed by the Iranian regime, including state-sponsored terrorism, destructive military capabilities, and the development of nuclear weapons. Citing failed diplomatic efforts, the president said that “strikes were undertaken to protect United States forces in the region, protect the United States homeland, advance United States national interests....and in collective self-defense of our regional allies, including Israel,” and claimed that they were “executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties, deter future attacks, and neutralize Iran's malign activities.”

President Trump also asserted that “United States forces remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats…”

The letter invokes the War Powers Resolution as a basis for informing Congress and indicates that President Trump directed this action “pursuant to [his] constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations.”

The War Powers Resolution stipulates that the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of military action undertaken without congressional authorization. 

Read the report here or below: