U.S. Formalizes End of Combat Operations Against Iran as Economic Blockade Persists

President Donald Trump has officially notified Congress that active hostilities between the United States and Iran have been terminated. This formal declaration follows a period of no reported exchange of fire since the ceasefire established on April 7, 2026. The conflict, which began on February 28, has transitioned from active military engagement to a strategy of sustained economic and maritime pressure. Despite the cessation of direct combat, the United States continues to enforce a comprehensive naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials described the "full force" blockade as a central component of a strategy to deliver a devastating blow to Iran's ability to fund regional destabilization. Complementing the blockade, the U.S. Treasury recently imposed sanctions on three Iranian currency exchange houses to further isolate Tehran from international financial networks. In a move to strengthen regional alliances during the transition to peace, the State Department approved significant arms sales to Gulf and Middle Eastern partners. Qatar has been cleared for a $4 billion purchase of Patriot missile systems, while Israel received approval for nearly $1 billion in precision weaponry. While regional tensions remain high—evidenced by a recent deadly strike in southern Lebanon—the primary U.S. focus has shifted toward institutionalizing the ceasefire through economic containment.