Morning opening: Trump threatens Italy, Spain with pulling out US troops
Jakub Krupa
Italy and Spain have joined a growing list of countries that US president Donald Trump is threatening with pulling US troops from as part of a broader review of the US military presence in Europe.
US president Donald Trump gestures during a press conference at a Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters
Responding to a question from a reporter, Trump said he would “probably” consider such a move, linking it to the two countries’ criticism of the US campaign in Iran.
“Look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Both countries have been vocally critical of Trump’s war in the Middle East, with the US president repeatedly taking aim at their leadership for refusing to join the conflict.
She also denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation procedure.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has been the most vocal European critic of the war from the very outset, repeatedly facing all sorts of angry reactions and threats from Trump in response, including of a trade embargo or a suspension of Nato membership (which is not even really a thing, really).
They know join Germany’s Friedrich Merz who was the prime target of Trump’s frustration in recent days, getting harshly criticised for his domestic record on energy and migration, involvement in the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and Iran.
Who’s next in the Trump lottery? Join us this Friday to see for yourself.
Let’s see if we are going to get any reactions from Rome or Madrid, or perhaps some other countries who previously stood resolutely behind the allies in the face of Trump’s threat.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement which becomes provisionally applicable today, and on the 1st of May marches and demonstrations across Europe.
It’s Friday, 1 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
It’s a fairly slow news day today, as half of Europe is enjoying theirlong weekend celebrating the International Workers’ Day.
So let’s show you some early pictures of 1 May parades – often led by trade unions and putting forward demands for better pay or working conditions – taking place in several countries around Europe.
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So far, there has been no public reaction from the Spanish government.
Last week, Reuters published an internal Pentagon memo suggested that the US considered suspending Spain from Nato. It’s not entirely clear how this was expected to happen, as there is no obvious procedure to go through and that would allow the US to make that decision without the other allies.
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Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto rejected accusations that Rome has not helped the US, especially in relation to maritime security in the strait of Hormuz.
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In reference to Trump’s accusations that Europeans have crossed the strait of Hormuz, he said this isn’t true and “we also made ourselves available for a mission to protect shipping.”
La Repubblica noted that there are seven US bases in Italy, with up to 15,000 troops, which for example provide Italy with air defence systems that would take a decade to replace.
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Italy and Spain have joined a growing list of countries that US president Donald Trump is threatening with pulling US troops from as part of a broader review of the US military presence in Europe.
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president Donald Trump gestures during a press conference at a Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands.”,”caption”:”US president Donald Trump gestures during a press conference at a Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Responding to a question from a reporter, Trump said he would “probably” consider such a move, linking it to the two countries’ criticism of the US campaign in Iran.
Both countries have been vocally critical of Trump’s war in the Middle East, with the US president repeatedly taking aim at their leadership for refusing to join the conflict.
She also denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation procedure.
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Meanwhile, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has been the most vocal European critic of the war from the very outset, repeatedly facing all sorts of angry reactions and threats from Trump in response, including of a trade embargo or a suspension of Nato membership (which is not even really a thing, really).
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They know join Germany’s Friedrich Merz who was the prime target of Trump’s frustration in recent days, getting harshly criticised for his domestic record on energy and migration, involvement in the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and Iran.
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Who’s next in the Trump lottery? Join us this Friday to see for yourself.
Let’s see if we are going to get any reactions from Rome or Madrid, or perhaps some other countries who previously stood resolutely behind the allies in the face of Trump’s threat.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement which becomes provisionally applicable today, and on the 1st of May marches and demonstrations across Europe.
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Key events
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International Workers’ Day parades gets under way
It’s a fairly slow news day today, as half of Europe is enjoying theirlong weekend celebrating the International Workers’ Day.
So let’s show you some early pictures of 1 May parades – often led by trade unions and putting forward demands for better pay or working conditions – taking place in several countries around Europe.
Expect to see more of them during the day.
May Day parade in Turin, Italy. Photograph: Foto Daniele Solavaggione/LaPresse/Shutterstock
Demonstrators gather in Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece during a May Day protest. Photograph: Aristidis Vafeiadakis/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
No public response from Spain so far
So far, there has been no public reaction from the Spanish government.
But this is not the first time they face similar threats from Trump.
Last week, Reuters published an internal Pentagon memo suggested that the US considered suspending Spain from Nato. It’s not entirely clear how this was expected to happen, as there is no obvious procedure to go through and that would allow the US to make that decision without the other allies.
There are 3,200 US troops in Spain, mainly at the Rota naval base and theMorónairbase.
No jokes about names please.
‘I don’t understand the reasons,’ Italian defence minister surprised by Trump’s comments
Italy’s defence minister Guido Crosetto rejected accusations that Rome has not helped the US, especially in relation to maritime security in the strait of Hormuz.
Defence minister Guido Crosetto at an event in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/AGF/Shutterstock
In reference to Trump’s accusations that Europeans have crossed the strait of Hormuz, he said this isn’t true and “we also made ourselves available for a mission to protect shipping.”
“This was greatly appreciated by the American military,” he added.
La Repubblica noted that there are seven US bases in Italy, with up to 15,000 troops, which for example provide Italy with air defence systems that would take a decade to replace.
Morning opening: Trump threatens Italy, Spain with pulling out US troops
Jakub Krupa
Italy and Spain have joined a growing list of countries that US president Donald Trump is threatening with pulling US troops from as part of a broader review of the US military presence in Europe.
US president Donald Trump gestures during a press conference at a Nato summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters
Responding to a question from a reporter, Trump said he would “probably” consider such a move, linking it to the two countries’ criticism of the US campaign in Iran.
“Look, why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Both countries have been vocally critical of Trump’s war in the Middle East, with the US president repeatedly taking aim at their leadership for refusing to join the conflict.
She also denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to US military planes carrying weapons for the war in Iran after the US did not follow the required authorisation procedure.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez has been the most vocal European critic of the war from the very outset, repeatedly facing all sorts of angry reactions and threats from Trump in response, including of a trade embargo or a suspension of Nato membership (which is not even really a thing, really).
They know join Germany’s Friedrich Merz who was the prime target of Trump’s frustration in recent days, getting harshly criticised for his domestic record on energy and migration, involvement in the Russian aggression on Ukraine, and Iran.
Who’s next in the Trump lottery? Join us this Friday to see for yourself.
Let’s see if we are going to get any reactions from Rome or Madrid, or perhaps some other countries who previously stood resolutely behind the allies in the face of Trump’s threat.
Elsewhere, I will bring you the latest on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement which becomes provisionally applicable today, and on the 1st of May marches and demonstrations across Europe.
It’s Friday, 1 May 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
From l-r., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Danial Caine, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and acting undersecretary of defense during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense budget, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Thursday, April 30, 2026. Cliff Owen/AP hide caption
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Cliff Owen/AP
WASHINGTON — Many Republicans who have been uneasy with President Donald Trump’s war in Iran emphasized that there would be a May 1 deadline for Congress to intervene. But the date is now set to pass with no action from GOP lawmakers who continue to defer to the White House.
Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorize the use of force within 60 days — a deadline that falls on Friday — or within 90 days if the president asks for an extension. But Congress made no attempt at enforcing that requirement, leaving town for a week on Thursday after the Senate rejected a Democratic attempt to halt the war for a sixth time.
The Trump administration has shown no interest in seeking congressional approval at all. It is arguing that the deadlines set by the law don’t apply because the war in Iran effectively ended when a ceasefire began in early April.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Thursday he doesn’t plan on a vote to authorize force in Iran or otherwise weigh in.
“I’m listening carefully to what the members of our conference are saying, and at this point I don’t see that,” Thune said.
The reluctance to defy Trump on the war comes at a politically perilous time for Republicans, with public frustration mounting both over the conflict and its impact on gas prices. Still, most GOP lawmakers say they are supportive of Trump’s wartime leadership, or are at least willing to give him more time amid the fragile ceasefire.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota says he’d vote for an authorization of war if Trump asked for it. But he questioned if the War Powers Resolution, passed during the Vietnam War era as a way for Congress to claw back its power, is even constitutional.
“Our founders created a really strong executive, like it or not like it,” Cramer said.
Still, some GOP senators made clear that they eventually want Congress to have a say. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a floor speech Thursday that she will introduce a limited authorized use of military force when the Senate returns from the one-week recess if the administration has not yet presented what she called a “credible plan.”
“I do not believe we should engage in open-ended military action without clear accountability,” Murkowski said. “Congress has a role.”
Some Republicans signal they want a vote
A handful of GOP senators have said for weeks that Congress should assert its authority over the war at some point. One of those senators, Maine’s Susan Collins, voted for the first time with Democrats on Thursday to halt the war. She said in a statement she wants to see a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close.
“The president’s authority as commander-in-chief is not without limits,” Collins said, adding that the 60-day deadline is “not a suggestion, it is a requirement.”
In addition to Collins and Murkowski, Republican Sens. John Curtis of Utah, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Josh Hawley of Missouri, among others, have said in recent weeks that they would eventually like to see a vote.
Curtis said he would not support continued funding for the war until Congress votes to authorize it.
“It is time for decision-making from both the administration and from Congress — and that can happen in league with one another, not in conflict,” Curtis said.
Thune suggested the White House step up its outreach to lawmakers with briefings and hearings if it wants continued support from Capitol Hill.
“Obviously, getting readouts from our military leadership on a somewhat regular basis I think will be helpful in terms of shaping the views of our members about how comfortable they are with everything that’s happening there, and the direction headed forward,” Thune said.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 states that a president has 60 calendar days after notifying Congress that the U.S. is engaged in military hostilities to either end the military campaign or gain approval from Congress. The White House can use a 30-day extension to safely withdraw forces, but Congress must be notified.
The 60-day window will expire Friday, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a hearing Thursday, “We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means, the 60-day clock pauses or stops.”
Meanwhile, a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s position, said for purposes of the war powers law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated.” The official said the U.S. military and Iran have not exchanged fire since the two-week ceasefire that began April 7.
The administration is making that argument even though Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. Navy is maintaining a blockade to prevent Iran’s oil tankers from getting out to sea.
Democrats scoffed at the suggestion that May 1 is not the real deadline. “I do not believe the statute would support that,” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine told Hegseth in the hearing.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., argued that the military is still operating warships and other military assets even though it has stopped bombing Iran during the ceasefire.
“Ceasing to use some forces while using others does not somehow stop the clock,” Schiff said.
Yet, the development came as little surprise to at least one House Democrat who oversees the military.
Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told The Associated Press: “Is the expectation that the Trump administration is going to follow the law? I do not have that expectation.”
Majority of US military sites in Middle East damaged by Iran, CNN investigation reveals
3:48
• Peace talks: President Donald Trump said that no one knows the status of talks with Iran aside from himself and a handful of others, suggesting the negotiations are advancing despite the appearance of a standstill. Iran’s revised peace proposal could come today, according to sources.
• War powers: Trump criticizedcongressional efforts aimed at limiting his war powers, as lawmakers and US officials disagree on whether a legal deadline for the use of military force without congressional authorization has passed.
• Europe spat: Tension between the US and its European allies over the war has reached new heights, with Trump threatening to pull US troops from Germany, Italy and Spain.
Almost 10 billion meals a week are at risk due to the war’s impact on the fertilizer industry, with its knock-on effects to hit the world’s poorest countries, the head of one of the world’s largest fertilizer companies has warned.
Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara, explained that because the Strait of Hormuz is a key transit route for ammonia, urea and other essential agricultural products, its blockade continues to have a significant effect on food production.
For every week the crisis continues, more than half a million tonnes of urea could be removed from the global supply chain, Holsether told CNN Friday.
“To put the figure into perspective, half a million tonnes of urea contain enough nutrients to produce the equivalent of nearly 10 billion meals,” he said.
Less fertilizer causes reduced crop yields and less food production. Such a scenario could lead to a bidding war for food which would disproportionately hit the world’s poorest countries, Holsether said.
Some of the world’s largest fertilizer plants, as well as a major producer of the raw materials needed to make fertilizer, are in the Middle East. About 25-30% of global trade in those raw materials passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed for two months, according to Morningstar.
And even if the Strait of Hormuz was to immediately to reopen and supply chains return to normal, high prices may continue to persist, he said, as fertilizer production and raw material supply have already been lost.
More than a dozen people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, its health ministry said, despite a ceasefire that was extended last week.
The ministry said Israeli strikes in multiple towns located in the Nabatieh district in southern Lebanon killed at least 16 people, including children.
Hezbollah strikes in southern Lebanon killed an Israeli soldier, while several Israeli soldiers were wounded, the Israeli military told CNN on Thursday.
More than 2,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the war, according to figures from its health ministry.
Democratic Sen. Blumenthal tells CNN “imminent” military strike still on the table
2:06
US DemocraticSen.Richard Blumenthal told CNN “an imminent military strike is very much on the table” based onhis takeaways from some briefings and other sources.
“I do have the impression from some of the briefings that I have received, as well as other sources that an imminent military strike is very much on the table,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett, adding it is “deeply disturbing, because it could well involve American sons and daughters in harm’s way and potential massive casualties.”
He added that he didn’t think it “should be surprising anyone, because the military leaders involved in this effort have talked about it for some time.”
US President Donald Trump was expected to hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday as he pressures Tehran into agreeing to a deal, a source said.
Senator Rick Scott tells CNN’s Kaitlan Collins the president should be able to continue the war with Iran without asking Congress for authorization.
GOP Sen: Trump doesn’t need Congress for war powers
1:55
Pakistani mediators expect a revised peace proposal from Iran after US President Donald Trump rejected a previous version, with sources saying an answer could come by Friday.
The president said Wednesday that negotiations were happening “telephonically” and that his response to any proposal from Iran will depend on how far it goes on limiting its nuclear program. Iran’s previously rejected proposal called for opening the Strait of Hormuz first and dealing with nuclear issues later.
Here’s what else you need to know:
War powers: Trump criticized congressional efforts aimed at limiting his war powers — the latest of which the Senate rejected Thursday. A post-Vietnam War law puts a 60-day clock on the use of military force without congressional authorization, but there’s disagreement in Congress over the deadline.
Military options: The US president was expected to hear about updated military options for Iran from Pentagon officials on Thursday as he pressures Tehran into agreeing to a deal, a source said. Trump is routinely updated on military plans, and there was little to indicate his previous reluctance to restart the US bombing campaign was waning.
Oil crisis latest: The Trump administration is pressing foreign governments to join a new coalition to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran war continues to choke the waterway vital to the global oil trade. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian again slammed the US blockade of Iranian ports, saying it amounts to continued military action against his country.
Europe spat: Trump said that he is considering reducing US troop levels in Spain and Italy, as the US broadly re-evaluates its military footprint in Europe amid disagreements with allies over the Iran war. Trump has had significant friction with European leaders over their not helping in the Iran war. And in the Oval Office Thursday, he renewed his criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in particular.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Donald Trump on Thursday addressed a report that Amazon was considering a rebooted version of “The Apprentice,” helmed by his eldest son.
“We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Amazon Prime was discussing a reboot of the president’s early aughts reality program, which aired on NBC for 14 seasons, with Donald Trump Jr. as potential host.
FILE – In this July 9, 2004 file photo, Donald Trump, seeking contestants for “The Apprentice” television show, is interviewed at Universal Studios Hollywood in the Universal City section of Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Ric Francis, File)
“We had a great success, 14 seasons, and ‘The Apprentice’ was a tremendous success. So, I’ve been hearing that a little bit. So, we’ll see what happens. He’s good. He’s a good guy. He’d be probably good. He’s got a little charisma going,” Trump said.
Copyright 2026 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
US Hormuz mission ‘not in competition’ with France, UK-led effort: French FM
Jean-Noel Barrot is visiting the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and OmanImage: Nicolas Roses/ABACA/picture alliance
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said a UK-France initiative to secure trade in the Strait of Hormuz was “not in competition” with a separate US mission.
The top diplomat was speaking in Abu Dhabi on Friday during a regional tour.
The UK-France mission “is now at an advanced stage, the planning has been finalized, and I have come to present the concept of this mission to a number of our closest partners in the region,” Barrot said in comments published by French news agency AFP.
The US, meanwhile, has launched what it’s calling a “maritime freedom construct” to ensure free and unimpeded access to shipping through the strait. The key waterway for transporting oil and gas has effectively been closed by Iran since the start of the war, sending energy prices soaring.
The US mission is “not of the same nature as the one we established … it comes as a sort of complement,” Barrot said. “It is not in competition with the initiative we have launched.”
The UAE is one of OPEC’s largest oil producersImage: EPA/Emirates News Agency/dpa/picture alliance
The UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+ on Friday in what is seen as a major blow to the oil cartel and its ability to absorb shocks and regulate oil prices.
The UAE is one of the Saudi-led group’s biggest producers. Its exit is expected to further strain ties between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, who had repeatedly locked horns over economic issues and politics in the Gulf.
“Having invested heavily in expanding energy production capacity in recent years, the bigger picture is that the UAE has been itching to pump more oil,” Capital Economics wrote in an analysis.
The UAE is seeking to expand its production capacity to 5 million barrels a day by 2027, well above OPEC’s quota of 3.4 million barrels.
The withdrawal is not expected to have any immediate effects on markets, given that world oil supplies are tightly constrained by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Republicans largely back Trump, some demand Congress vote as deadline passes
A deadline for the Trump administration to seek congressional approval for the Iran war or end the conflict looked set to pass on Friday without action from lawmakers.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday he doesn’t plan to intervene or hold a vote to authorize force in Iran: “I’m listening carefully to what the members of our conference are saying, and at this point I don’t see that,” he said.
The Trump administration says it believes the law that obligates the president to seek congressional authorization after 60 days of conflict doesn’t apply because hostilities with Iran were “terminated” by a ceasefire implemented on April 7.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said he would vote to authorize the war if President Donald Trump asked for it.
Several other Republicans, who initially backed limited action against Tehran, have said they would like to see Congress have a say on a longer operation.
Utah’s John Curtis said the 60-day deadline demands action and that he would not support more funding for the war without lawmakers’ authorization.
“It is time for decision-making from both the administration and from Congress — and that can happen in league with one another, not in conflict,” Curtis said.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said she will introduce a limited authorized use of military force if the administration does not present what she called a “credible plan.”
“I do not believe we should engage in open-ended military action without clear accountability,” Murkowski said. “Congress has a role.”
Maine Senator Susan Collins, who on Thursday voted for the first time in favor of a Democrat resolution to end military action in Iran, said the 60-day deadline is “not a suggestion, it is a requirement.”
“The president’s authority as commander-in-chief is not without limits,” she said.
The war and its connected costs has become increasingly unpopular, likely leaving some Republican lawmakers worried ahead of the mid-term elections coming up later this year.
German tax cut on petrol, diesel seeks to ease impact of Iran war
A tax cut on petrol and diesel designed to ease rising fuel prices driven by the Iran war came into effect in Germany on Friday.
The tax rebate of €0.17 ($0.20) per liter was approved last month and is expected to stay in place until the end of June.
Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for the world’s oil, has caused fuel prices to spike.
According to the German automobile association ADAC’s gas station app, prices at the pump were below €2 ($2.35) in many parts of the country early on Friday, especially for E10 petrol and in some cases for diesel.
Experts say it remains to be seen to be seen how quickly the tax cut will trickle down to consumers. The rebate only applies to fuel that left tank farms or refineries after midnight, not to the stocks already held by petrol stations. Gas stations are also not required to offer specific prices or discounts.
The German Fuel and Energy Association, has said, however, that the full tax cut would be passed on to customers.
Why Iran fuel crisis hits different in Europe than the US
Trump says ‘probably’ will pull troops from Spain, Italy
US bases in Europe grant the US military proximity to the Middle East, among other locationsImage: Marcelo del Pozo/REUTERS
US President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw American troops from Spain and Italy due to their criticism of the war with Iran.
“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider such a move. “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
It came a day after he said Washington was “studying and reviewing the possible reduction” of US troops in Germany.
The US president has lashed out at NATO allies for failing to help with the US-Israeli operation against Iran and for not sending their navies to open the Strait of Hormuz, which has essentially been closed by Tehran since the start of the war.
Last week, a report said the US was considering suspending Spain from the military alliance as part of a range of possible measures to punish allies viewed as uncooperative.
As of December 2025, there were about 36,400 American troops based in Germany, as well as 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain.
US official says truce already ‘terminated’ conflict
Although a ceasefire between the two sides has held, Iran maintains its blockade of the Strait of HormuzImage: REUTERS
The Trump administration says a ceasefire in place since early April means the war with Iran has already ended for the purposes of an approaching congressional approval deadline.
Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president can wage military action for 60 days before ending hostilities or seeking authorization from Congress.
The Iran war began with US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28. US President Donald Trump formally notified Congress of the conflict 48 hours later, meaning the 60-day deadline would be May 1. The resolution also allows the deadline to be extended by 30 days.
A senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had been no exchange of fire between US and Iranian forces since the ceasefire that began a little over three weeks ago.
“For War Powers Resolution purposes, the hostilities that began on Saturday, February 28, have terminated,” the official added, a position that means Trump would not have to seek congressional approval.
The statement came after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a hearing in the Senate that it was the administration’s “understanding” that the ceasefire paused the 60-day clock. Democrats have disputed that interpretation, saying there are no legal grounds for such a pause.
Earlier, analysts had said they expected Trump to either disregard the deadline or notify Congress that he wanted a 30-day extension.
The ceasefire with Tehran has largely been holding, although Iran maintains its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy continues to blockade Iranian ports.
Hello and thanks for joining us. Here’s a quick recap of what happened on Thursday:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced a second day of questioning before the House Armed Services Committee over his handling of the Iran war.
Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said his country stands ready to contribute militarily to securing the Strait of Hormuz “if the relevant conditions are met,” adding that Iran must come to the negotiating table and stop holding “the entire world hostage.”
Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who took up the role after his father’s death in US-Israeli airstrikes, issued a statement saying Iran intended to both maintain a nuclear program and impose “new legal frameworks and management” for Hormuz, possibly including tolls.
Iran’s president said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports was in violation of international law and was doomed to fail.
US President Donald Trump said he was considering pulling his country’s troops out of NATO allies Spain and Italy due to their opposition to the Iran war, which just entered its third month.
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The remarks came just a day after the US president proposed a similar reduction of US military presence in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the Trump administration over its war strategy, suggesting it was ill-conceived and adding that Tehran was humiliating Washington.
“Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn’t I?” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about Spain and Italy.
“Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”
The US president added that the US-led war in Iran helps the entire world, including Spain, Italy and Germany, and criticised what he called “so-called allies” for not participating in their efforts to “eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat”.
As of December 2025, there were 36,436 active-duty US troops in Germany, 12,662 in Italy and 3,814 in Spain. It is unclear what level of reduction the Trump administration is considering, but some US media outlets have suggested that it could be significant.
The US leader has been bitterly critical of NATO allies for failing to help with the US-Israeli operation or with keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for oil tankers, cargo and maritime traffic.
Following Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s criticisms of the Iran war last month, the US president slammed in a surprise attack his formerly close right-wing ally, saying she “lacks courage” for not standing up to domestic pressure and publicly supporting or endorsing the war efforts.
His row with Spain goes back longer, with criticisms first starting around Spain’s position on Israel over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and later extending to differences with Madrid over increasing NATO defence spending requirements.
The US president had rallied all NATO members to increase their defence expenditure to 5% of GDP, all of whom agreed by last year’s NATO summit in the Hague, except Spain, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez saying he will only do what is beneficial to his country, and opting to keep expenditure the same.
The Trump administration has lashed out at Spain numerous times, threatened to cut off trade with the southern European nation, and, more recently, called for its removal from the defence alliance.
Last week, a report said that the US was again considering trying to suspend Spain from NATO over its refusal to support the war in Iran, which has upended the broader region and sent global oil prices spiralling.
Brent crude, the international standard, closed trading on Friday evening at around $114 a barrel, a dramatic surge from pre-war prices of just $70 a barrel.
