President Donald Trump formally notified Congress last week that the United States would resume military action against Iran in accordance with the War Powers Act, which requires presidents to inform lawmakers of any military attack within 48 hours of launching it.

In a letter sent to Congress on July 10 and reviewed by MS NOW, Trump said he directed the U.S. military to strike Iran after the country attacked neutral-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz last week despite the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.

As part of the ongoing response, the U.S. on Tuesday launched a “third consecutive night of strikes against Iran,” according to U.S. Central Command .

Under the War Powers Act, Trump’s notification triggered a 60-day period during which Congress can authorize the military action or require it to end.

According to Trump’s letter, U.S. ground forces were not involved in the strikes against Iran. Trump also described the strikes as “limited, measured, planned, and executed in a manner designed to minimize civilian casualties.”

The recent attacks, the letter said, “are focused on military capabilities posing a threat to the United States Armed Forces in the region, protecting the United States homeland, advancing United States national interests, securing safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, and defending our regional allies and partners.”

On July 7, CENTCOM said it responded to the attacks in the strait by striking dozens of targets in Iran. The U.S. Treasury also reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil sales last week.

On Monday, Trump said the U.S. would be “reinstating” a blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and, in a seeming policy reversal, would charge other ships for safe passage. Iran has insisted it controls the critical waterway, as another exchange of fire threatened a return to all-out war.

The U.S. had until now said the strait should remain open to all without tolls, as it was before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Any attempt by the U.S. or Iran to charge fees would violate global norms on freedom of navigation and raise tensions, likely causing further economic disruption far beyond the region.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 7.8% to $81.92 a barrel on Monday, still well below the nearly $120 reached at the height of the war.

Exchanges of fire in recent days, sparked by Iranian attacks on ships, had already cast further doubt on the interim peace deal reached last month. Washington had lifted a blockade it imposed in mid-April as part of that deal, which also called for the strait to be fully reopened.

“We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE,” Trump said on social media. “All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait.”

The president said the U.S. would be “reimbursed” by 20% of the value of cargo to help cover “any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security.”

The U.S. military said it would resume its blockade of Iranian ports Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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