The US administration has bypassed congressional review to offer arms sales worth more than $8.6 billion to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
The move comes as President Donald Trump told lawmakers that the war against Iran has “terminated,” even as he warned that talks with Tehran remain uncertain and military action is still on the table.
According to the State Department, the proposed sales include advanced precision kill weapon systems, air and missile defense replenishment services, and an integrated battle command system.
Arms package follows Iran conflict
The arms sales come after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and US bases in Gulf states, escalating the conflict across the region.
The confrontation raised concerns over regional security, air defense readiness and the protection of US-aligned Gulf states.
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Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told lawmakers that the war against Iran has “terminated.” The military action was launched without congressional approval and had reached the 60-day legal deadline under US law.
“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump said in a letter to congressional leaders, according to Politico.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” he added.
War Powers deadline puts pressure on White House
The latest move appears to be an effort to quell the political fight over whether Congress needed to approve the Iran conflict.
Under the War Powers Resolution adopted in 1973, a US president must end military action within 60 days after notifying Congress of the use of force, unless lawmakers authorize continued operations.
Trump’s letter to congressional leaders came as the administration faced questions over the legality and future of the military campaign.
Despite saying hostilities had ended, Trump said on Friday that negotiations with Iran remain uncertain.
Speaking to reporters before departing on Marine One, he warned that he was “not satisfied” with the current proposals from Tehran.
Also Read: Iran's new proposal to US to end war: Details revealed
“They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. He also described Iran’s leadership as fragmented and unable to reach a clear consensus.
“They all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up,” he said. He added that Iran’s leadership was “very disjointed” and marked by internal divisions.
According to Trump, Iranian leaders “are not getting along with each other” and “don’t know who the leader is,” making negotiations more difficult.
Trump claims Iran’s military has been weakened
Trump further claimed that Iran’s military had been significantly degraded during the recent conflict. According to him, Iran now has “no navy,” “no air force,” and limited defense capability.
His remarks suggested that Washington believes Tehran is negotiating from a weakened military position.
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Despite his sharp rhetoric, Trump said he would prefer a diplomatic solution.
“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?” he said.
“I’d prefer not, on a human basis,” Trump added.
Military option still on the table
At the same time, Trump made clear that military action remains possible if talks fail. “Those are the options,” he said, framing the choice as one between escalation and negotiation.
The remarks underline the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s next steps, even as the administration says the Iran war has legally ended.
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