Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has openly defied the country’s ruling military council and ordered the Egyptian parliament to resume its duties. Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces dissolved parliament last month after Egypt’s top court ruled its election was unconstitutional. The news comes as Morsi received an invitation to visit President Obama at the White House in September. The invite followed Morsi’s first meeting with a top U.S. official, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, since his election last month.

William Burns: “We are fully committed to working with Egypt’s president, its new government and all parties to sustain our partnership and advance our shared interest in a strong, democratic and economically vibrant Egypt that is a force for peace and stability in the region.”