Defense & National Security Newsletter

Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock

by Filip Timotija - 04/30/26 7:20 PM ET

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by Filip Timotija - 04/30/26 7:20 PM ET

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Thursday, April 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

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Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued on Thursday that the 60-day clock for the war with Iran stopped when President Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran.

The president notified Congress of the military operations against Tehran on March 2, meaning this Friday would mark the 60-day milestone at which point the War Powers Act requires the commander-in-chief to begin halting kinetic action unless congressional authorization is provided.

But, Hegseth said during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that he thinks the clock halted when the U.S. military stopped striking Iran on April 7.

“We are in a ceasefire right now, which our understanding means the 60-day clock pauses or stops in a ceasefire,” Hegseth told Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) during the 3-hour hearing.

“I do not believe the statute would support that,” Kaine responded. “I think the 60 days runs maybe tomorrow, and it’s going to pose a really important legal question for the administration there.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the U.S. is “not at war” with Iran.

“I don’t think we have an active, kinetic military bombing, firing or anything like that. Right now, we are trying to broker a peace,” Johnson told NBC News in the Capitol on Thursday.

“I would be very reluctant to get in front of the administration in the midst of these very sensitive negotiations, so we’ll have to see how that plays out,” he said.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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On Our Radar

Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:

The Center for Strategic and International Studies is holding a discussion tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. ET on “The Case for a Cold Peace with North Korea.”

The National Iranian American Council is holding a discussion at 1 p.m. ET tomorrow on “Bluster, Bombs and Blockade: Sixty Days of War on Iran.”

The Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Association of the U.S. Army are holding a discussion tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. ET on “Strategic Landpower Dialogue: A Conversation with Major General Lars S. Lervik.”

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