Negotiation deadlock continues as Trump faces 60-day legal deadline to end the Iran war

The negotiation between the US and Iran remains stalled as US President Donald Trump faces a legal deadline on Friday to end the Iran war or obtain congressional authorization for extending it, under the War Powers Resolution, as the negotiation remains stalled.

Under the War Powers Resolution, the president must terminate any unauthorized use of military force within 60 days unless Congress has declared war, provided specific authorization, or extended the deadline. 

A ⁠senior Trump administration ​official said ​late on Thursday that the ‌United States' hostilities with Iran that ​started in ​February have "terminated" for War Powers ​Resolution purposes, according to media reports. 

Meanwhile, a "dual blockade" – with both the United States restricting access to Iranian ports and Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz – has left the two sides locked in a prolonged military standoff.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that a US naval blockade of his country's ports was effectively an "extension of military operations" by Washington, despite an ongoing ceasefire between the two sides.

"The world has witnessed Iran's tolerance and conciliation. What is being done under the guise of a naval blockade is an extension of military operations against a nation paying the price for its resistance and independence," he said on X. "Continuation of this oppressive approach is intolerable."

Collateral economic damage continues to worry the international community, with oil prices holding above $100 per barrel.  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday cautioned of the potentially devastating consequences if disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz persist. In a press encounter, Guterres warned against plummeting economic growth and skyrocketing inflation rates if the strait remains closed through the year's end.

"Immense suffering takes hold, especially among the world's most vulnerable populations. And we confront the specter of a global recession, with dramatic impacts on people, on the economy, and on political and social stability," he said. 

(With input from agencies)