Trump Formally Notified Congress of Renewed Military Campaign Against Iran – Reports

President Trump formally notified Congress on July 10 that the United States had resumed "military action" against Iran, according to a letter several major mainstream news outlets reported seeing.

The Details: Several major outlets, including CBS News (Lean Left bias), Reuters (Center), and Politico (Lean Left), reported seeing the letter, which was reportedly addressed to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on July 10, but said military operations had commenced on July 7.

Key Quotes: Trump reportedly wrote, "I directed this ‌military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States' national security and foreign policy interests." He also said, "As previously communicated to the Congress, I ordered a two-week ceasefire on April 7, 2026. The ceasefire was then extended. Despite this commitment, Iran again attacked several neutral-flagged commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz between July 6-7, 2026."

Other Major Storylines: Trump said on Monday he is reimposing a blockade over the Strait of Hormuz, the commercial shipping artery Iran relies on to ship most of its exports. Following exchanges of strikes between the US and Iran earlier this month, the US ramped up its military action over the weekend, with three consecutive days of strikes.

For Context: The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month that outlined terms for ending the war within a 60-day negotiation window. Shortly thereafter, Vice President JD Vance met with an Iranian delegation for negotiations in Switzerland. On July 8, Trump said at a NATO summit in Ankara that he considered the Iran ceasefire to be "over."

How The Media Covered It: While outlets across the spectrum covered the latest developments on the Iran conflict Monday and Tuesday, the formal notification to Congress was covered mostly by the left and center. On this angle, AllSides found coverage from ZeroHedge (Lean Right), The Daily Wire (Right), and The Epoch Times (Lean Right). For context, ZeroHedge and The Epoch Times often cover stories that much of the rest of the right does not. The Daily Wire's headline stood out from others in that it framed the move through its consequences – that the president's War Powers timeframe would now be reset.

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