U.S. signals Iran war could resume within days if talks stall

Axios reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that the war with Iran could resume in the coming days if negotiators fail to secure a breakthrough soon, as President Donald Trump convened a Situation Room meeting at the White House on Saturday, April 18, 2026, to review developments around the Strait of Hormuz and the diplomatic track with Tehran.

That warning comes alongside more explicit public messaging from Washington. Reuters reported this week that senior U.S. military officials said American forces were ready to resume major combat operations “at literally a moment’s notice,” while the current ceasefire is due to expire within days and U.S. pressure on Iran continues to intensify.

On the operational side, Reuters said U.S. forces have already turned back 23 vessels since the blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas began, while another Reuters report said the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days for boarding and seizure operations targeting Iran-linked commercial ships in international waters.

Even so, diplomacy has not fully collapsed. Iran said on Saturday that no date has yet been set for the next round of talks with the United States, stressing that both sides must first agree on a framework of understanding, while Trump had earlier suggested a deal could come “within a day or two.”

Taken together, the developments point to a fragile balance between military coercion and last-minute diplomacy, with renewed strain around the Strait of Hormuz raising fears that any further breakdown could quickly push the region back into open conflict.