The US has moved military assets into the Middle East in recent months.
12:49, Wed, Feb 18, 2026 Updated: 13:35, Wed, Feb 18, 2026
Trump (Image: Getty)
The US is "close to war" with Iran, and a conflict could begin "very soon", it has been reported. Axios is a US-based online news outlet that specialises in insider reporting from Washington and national security officials.
Senior American officials told Axios the White House is preparing for possible military action if nuclear negotiations with Tehran collapse. Sources said any strike would not be a limited raid but a large-scale campaign lasting weeks, likely carried out alongside Israel and targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, missile sites and key regime infrastructure. Washington has already dramatically increased its military presence in the region, deploying aircraft carriers, warships and hundreds of fighter jets while more than 150 cargo flights have moved weapons and ammunition to Middle East bases. Diplomatic talks are continuing, but US officials are said to be pessimistic about reaching a deal, with Vice President JD Vance warning President Donald Trump has set "red lines" Iran has so far refused to accept.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln was one of the carriers deployed to the region amid rising tensions (Image: Getty Images)
The administration previously held back from attacking earlier this year, instead combining negotiations with a major military build-up. However expectations have risen that force will be used if diplomacy fails.
Israeli officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of conflict within days, while some figures in Washington believe strikes could still be weeks away.
One Trump adviser told Axios there is a "very high chance" of military action in the near future, saying the president is becoming increasingly frustrated with the stalled talks.
"The boss is getting fed up," the adviser said. "Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks."
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Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power in Iran, as Washington increases pressure (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Axios said there has been little public debate in the US about what could become its most significant Middle East military intervention in more than a decade.
There is currently no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough, the report said, but increasing evidence that the situation is moving towards war.
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English (US) · 