Trump’s ‘Mini-War’ in Iran Is Back, Congress Still MIA

Donald Trump’s so-called “mini-war” with Iran has flared up again, revealing once more his reckless approach to foreign conflict and blatant disregard for legal limits on presidential war powers. Despite Trump’s public declaration that hostilities against Iran have been “terminated,” the reality on the ground tells a very different story.

Over the past weeks, the US, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates have exchanged attacks and counterattacks around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway, crucial for global oil shipments, has been effectively closed by Iran in response to Trump’s earlier military provocations. The closure has sent shockwaves through global markets, driving up oil prices and threatening the flow of agricultural goods worldwide.

Trump’s “termination” claim serves a clear political purpose: to dodge the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires the president to seek congressional authorization for military actions beyond 60 days. Trump has already passed this deadline without approval, yet Republicans controlling Congress show no interest in enforcing this legal check. Trump’s argument that the ceasefire pauses the clock on the 60-day limit is legally dubious at best.

Far from winding down, Trump has launched “Project Freedom,” a plan to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz under the guise of a “humanitarian gesture.” This operation is a thinly veiled threat to Iran, with Trump warning that any interference will be “dealt with forcefully.” Iran’s national security chief has responded with clear threats of retaliation, raising the specter of wider military escalation.

This latest flare-up fits a disturbing pattern of Trump using foreign conflict as a distraction from his mounting domestic scandals and as a tool to consolidate power. The absence of congressional oversight and bipartisan accountability only deepens the risk of an uncontrolled and costly war.

We will continue to track this dangerous situation, holding the Trump administration accountable for its reckless brinkmanship and the erosion of democratic checks on war powers. Congress must step up before the “mini-war” becomes a full-blown catastrophe.