US bypasses Congress for $8.6 bn arms sales to Israel, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait
Synopsis
there has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026.
Key Takeaways
The declaration is widely seen as an effort to pre-empt a congressional challenge under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 , which requires a president to terminate military action within 60 days of notifying Congress — unless lawmakers explicitly authorise its continuation.
The Iran campaign was launched without prior congressional approval, making the 60-day deadline legally binding.
Trump Warns on Iran Negotiations Despite declaring hostilities over, Trump struck a cautious tone on diplomacy.
Speaking to reporters before departing on Marine One on Friday, he said negotiations with Tehran remain uncertain.
The United States administration has bypassed congressional review to offer arms sales worth over $8.6 billion to four Middle East allies — Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates — in a move that compounds an already fraught legislative standoff over President Donald Trump's Iran military campaign.
What the Arms Package Covers
According to the US State Department, the package includes advanced precision kill weapon systems, air and missile defence replenishment services, and an integrated battle command system. The sales were pushed through without the standard congressional notification process, sidestepping the legislative oversight that typically governs major foreign arms transfers.
Trump Declares Iran Hostilities 'Terminated'
In a separate but related development, President Trump notified congressional leaders in a letter — cited by Politico — that the military campaign against Iran has formally ended.
Point of View
But they're all messed up,
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
and marked by deep internal discord. He further claimed that Iranian leaders
are not getting along with each other
and limited overall defence capability. These claims have not been independently verified. Military Option Remains on the Table Despite expressing a preference for diplomacy —
Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of him and finish him forever, or do we want to try and make a deal? I'd prefer not, on a human basis,
Trump said — the president made clear that military escalation remains an option if talks fail.
Those are the options,
