WSJ: Navy Rearms Carrier With Bunker-Busters for Possible Iran Strikes

American warships in the Arabian Sea are taking on a fresh load of missiles and bunker-buster bombs as the Pentagon prepares options for President Trump in case he orders another round of strikes on Iran, according to a report published Saturday by The Wall Street Journal.

Journal reporters Shelby Holliday and Eve Hartley were given a rare visit aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington and a guided-missile destroyer in its strike group. According to the Journal, they observed flight operations and “a significant replenishment of munitions and supplies,” including “a large delivery of standoff land attack missiles and bunker-buster bombs designed to penetrate ground targets.”

Watch as sailors in the USS George Washington strike group prepare for a possible escalation in fighting on the front lines of the Iran war. https://t.co/0DuuHijABS

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 24, 2026

The Journal reported that American warships in the Middle East are preparing for an escalation in fighting in case the president opts for a fresh round of attacks against Iran in the coming weeks, citing U.S. officials familiar with the planning.

Options, not orders

The report does not say an attack has been approved. Arab Times, summarizing the Journal’s reporting, noted that the preparations give Washington additional military options “but do not confirm that a new attack has been authorised.” The outlet also reported that the White House has said the United States would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections.

That matches the president’s own public line. According to Iran International’s live coverage, Trump said at a Friday rally in Florida that the United States could launch another military operation against Iran unless Tehran reaches an agreement with Washington.

Tehran threatens the region

Iran’s regime is not backing down in its rhetoric. Arab Times reported that Tehran has warned renewed U.S. and Israeli attacks could trigger retaliation against American military bases and warships, as well as airports, pipelines and other economic infrastructure across the Gulf region. The outlet noted that Iran still has missile and drone capabilities that could threaten U.S. forces and regional targets.

Arab Times also reported that diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have stalled, while regional mediators are trying to revive negotiations and prevent a new escalation.

Diplomats moved, oil flowing

The buildup comes alongside other signs of caution. Iran International, citing CNN, reported that the United States is moving some diplomats and their families out of Lebanon, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan, and cited Axios as saying intelligence on alleged Iranian assassination plots helped prompt the staffing reductions.

At the same time, the economic picture in the Gulf has improved for the United States and its partners. According to Iran International, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said oil exports from the Persian Gulf have surpassed pre-war levels despite Iran’s attempts to disrupt energy shipments.

Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, is expected in Moscow next week for a gas exporters’ summit, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Pezeshkian would meet Vladimir Putin there, Iran International reported.

For now, the message from the Arabian Sea is clear: the Navy is restocked and ready, and the decision on what comes next rests with President Trump.

Sources

• The Wall Street Journal on X
• The Wall Street Journal: Aboard USS George Washington as It Rearms for Possible Iran Strikes
• Arab Times
• Iran International live coverage

Reporting by Daily Beltway.