Trump admin. faces critical 60-day Iran war deadline, but floats ceasefire loophole

President Donald Trump is running up against a Friday legal deadline that threatens to halt U.S. military operations against Iran — but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Thursday that the ongoing ceasefire nullifies that cutoff date.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Trump is required to withdraw U.S. armed forces 60 days after reporting their deployment to Congress — unless the legislative branch authorizes the military action, which it has not done.

The U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on Feb. 28, and Trump sent a letter notifying Congress of the action on March 2, starting the 60-day clock and setting up a May 1 deadline. Trump may seek a 30-day extension under the resolution, but he has not done so yet, according to lawmakers.

Hegseth, however, said in Senate testimony Thursday that he believes the statutory countdown clock "pauses or stops in a ceasefire."

The U.S. and Iran are currently in a ceasefire that was first announced on April 7.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who had asked Hegseth about the Friday deadline, immediately responded, "I do not believe the statute would support that."

Democrats, demanding Trump get congressional approval for the war, have pushed to rein in his war powers by forcing multiple long-shot votes that have all failed.

While Republicans have so far shown little willingness to curtail the ongoing U.S. military action, a growing number have said Congress needs a say.

"As I have said since these hostilities with Iran began, the President's authority as Commander-in-Chief is not without limits," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a statement after voting in favor of Democrats' latest War Powers vote.

The upcoming 60-day deadline "is not a suggestion; it is a requirement," Collins said.

"Further military action against Iran must have a clear mission, achievable goals, and a defined strategy for bringing the conflict to a close. I voted to end the continuation of these military hostilities at this time until such a case is made."

Trump, asked at the White House on Thursday if he was getting "antsy" to end the ceasefire in light of stalled negotiations with "stubborn" Iran, pushed back on the premise.

"I don't know what stubborn is, because really nobody knows what the talks are, except myself and a couple of other people," Trump said. "They want to make a deal badly."

Trump was slated to receive a briefing Thursday from U.S. Central Commander Adm. Brad Cooper and other military leaders on potential strikes in Iran, Axios and Reuters reported overnight.

The testy ceasefire has so far failed to lead to a peace deal between Washington and Tehran. They have instead each focused on inflicting economic pain via the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for the global oil trade, trying to bring the other to heel.

But their efforts — Iran's de facto stoppage of ship traffic through the strait, and the U.S.' retaliatory naval blockade of Iranian ports — have resulted in a deadlock.

CENTCOM has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes intended to break the logjam and force Iran to be more flexible with its demands, Axios reported Wednesday.

Other options being discussed include a special forces operation to secure Iran's supply of highly enriched uranium or taking actions to gain more U.S. control over the strait, according to Axios.

The White House did not respond to CNBC's request for comment on the reported briefing. CENTCOM declined to comment.

The blockage of the strait has caused a global oil supply shock that has sent prices soaring.

Iran has rejected further negotiations unless the U.S. blockade is lifted, but Trump has said he will not do so until Tehran agrees to a deal on its nuclear ambitions.

Trump at the White House on Wednesday boasted that the blockade is "genius" and that Iran's economy "is really in trouble."

"Now they have to cry uncle, that's all they have to do. Just say, 'We give up,'" he said.

He earlier claimed that Iran's oil infrastructure is set to "explode" in a matter of days due to the blockade preventing it from exporting crude. But experts told CNBC that Iran has weeks, and possibly months, of time before its oil backup becomes intolerable.

That may be longer than Trump — whose economic approval ratings have sunk to new lows amid the war — is willing to hold out.