US military operations against Iran began with joint strikes alongside Israel on February 28, 2026, targeting nuclear and military sites after negotiations collapsed, yet Congress has not issued a formal declaration of war as required by the Constitution. A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire took effect in early April and has since been extended indefinitely while the two sides pursue direct talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions, and limiting Iran’s nuclear program. Recent proposals from both Washington and Tehran have focused on ending active hostilities without immediate resolution of core disputes, and US forces have paused escort operations through the strait amid reported progress toward a memorandum of understanding. These diplomatic developments, coupled with the ongoing War Powers Act timeline and internal Iranian divisions, continue to shape trader assessments of whether formal congressional action will occur within any specific resolution window.