US President Donald Trump has formally notified Congress that American military action against Iran resumed on July 7, marking the end of a months-long ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, according to a CBS News report citing a letter sent by the president.

The notification came after Trump declared the ceasefire “over” and ordered multiple rounds of strikes on Iranian military targets following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In the letter, Trump described the US operation as “limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties”.

Trump Notifies Congress Under War Powers Resolution

According to CBS News, Trump sent the letter dated July 10 to Senate President pro tempore Senator Chuck Grassley, formally informing Congress that military action against Iran had “commenced on July 7”.

The notification was submitted under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which requires the US president to inform Congress within 48 hours of the commencement of military hostilities.

Trump said the latest strikes were aimed at Iranian military sites that posed a threat to American forces and commercial vessels operating in the region.

The Trump administration had previously informed Congress that hostilities had ended after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in early April following the conflict that began in late February.

Trump Says Iran Violated Agreement By Attacking Oil Tankers

In the letter cited by CBS News, Trump said the United States had undertaken “productive, good-faith efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to Iran’s malign behaviour”.

Those diplomatic efforts culminated in a memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran last month.

Trump, however, said Tehran violated the agreement by attacking three oil tankers early last week.

The agreement required Iran to ensure the safe transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the US president, who said the tanker attacks prompted Washington to resume military operations.

Iran has maintained that ships must seek permission and use routes approved by Tehran before passing through the strategic waterway.

Tehran responded to the renewed US strikes by launching missiles and drones at US-allied Gulf states.

US Forces Ready For Further Action, Trump Says

Trump told Congress that American forces remained prepared to conduct additional military operations if required.

“United States Armed Forces remain postured to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats and attacks upon the United States or its allies and partners and to ensure the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran ceases being a threat to the United States and to our allies and partners,” the letter said, according to CBS News.

The notification came as US military operations against Iran continued, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) launching a third consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets.

CENTCOM said the operations were intended to impose costs on Iranian forces and weaken their ability to target civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump Announces Naval Blockade Targeting Iran

Trump also announced that American forces would reimpose a naval blockade targeting Iran and vessels doing business with Tehran while allowing ships from other countries to continue using the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re putting the blockade back. It’s a blockade, not for anybody but Iran. In other words, anybody doing business with Iran can’t go through. Everyone else will be able to go through,” Trump said.

The US president said the blockade, combined with continued military strikes, would increase pressure on Tehran.

Trump also announced another “very major attack” against Iran and said American military operations would continue.

The latest escalation followed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which triggered US retaliatory strikes on 140 locations across Iran.

US To Resume Blockade Of Iranian Ports

The United States has also announced that it will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports from Tuesday evening.

Trump said on Sunday that Washington would charge a 20 per cent fee to provide security for vessels using the strategic shipping route.

The US president said international maritime traffic would remain open to other countries despite the escalation in the region and defended the levy as necessary to cover the operational costs of securing the waterway.

Iran Warns Against US Intervention In Strait Of Hormuz

Iran has rejected Washington’s attempts to control maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and reaffirmed its claim of authority over the strategic waterway.

Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said Tehran would not “under any circumstances, allow the US to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz”.

Zolfaghari warned that Iran would retaliate against US military action involving the passage of commercial vessels and oil tankers outside Tehran’s designated shipping routes and without authorisation from the Iranian armed forces.

The renewed military operations, blockade plans and threats of further retaliation have further escalated tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining conflicting claims over control and navigation through the strategic waterway.

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