Iran Activates Air Defenses as Trump Confronts Critical Congressional Deadline
Tehran activated air defense systems late Thursday to counter small aircraft and reconnaissance drones, state media reported, as the Trump administration signaled it will not be bound by a congressional deadline on the Iran war.
The White House argued that the 60‑day clock to seek war authorization under the War Powers Resolution is effectively paused by the April 7 ceasefire. “For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared that the United States had suffered a “shameful defeat” and that a “new chapter is unfolding” for the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran continues to control. Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and is now seeking an international coalition to coordinate safe passage through the strait.
Oil prices hit a four‑year high, with Brent crude soaring above $126 a barrel before easing. UN chief António Guterres warned that the closure of Hormuz is “strangling the global economy,” while the International Energy Agency called it “the biggest energy crisis in history.”
Violence also continued on the Lebanese front, with Israeli strikes killing at least 15 people Thursday. The US is pushing for direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli leaders.
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