US aircraft carrier replenishes supplies amid possible renewed strikes against Iran

A US aircraft carrier is replenishing supplies for possible renewed strikes against Iran while restrictions at Iraqi and Pakistani border crossings are adding to Tehranrsquos economic isolation according to reports by The Wall Street JournalThe reports describe military preparations and restrictions on commerce as President Donald Trump weighs further action against Iran Neither establishes that he has issued an order for a new bombing campaignIn a video report published on Saturday the Journalrsquos Shelby Holliday described nighttime aircraft launches and recoveries aboard USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea followed by a major replenishment operationThe report said aircraft were enforcing the blockade of Iranian ports and protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz It described the replenishment as indicating preparations for a potentially larger bombing campaignThe Washington Post separately reported preparations to position up to three aircraft carriers and escort vessels in the region in November citing unnamed officialsOn land Iraq closed the Sheeb crossing on Wednesday citing antismuggling enforcement the Journal reported Pakistan restricted Iranian trucks at Gabd and Taftan during the preceding weekend citing security concernsThose restrictions predated the Journalrsquos Friday report and Saturday print edition They were not announced as new closures on SaturdayTrump speaking after voting early in Palm Beach Florida on Saturday again left open both military action and an agreement with TehranldquoI may have to finish it off or maybe theyll make a deal but Im not surerdquo he saidAsked later about the timing of a possible attack Trump declined to disclose his thinking He said an attack remained possible as did an agreement while questioning whether Iran would honour a deal He announced neither a military timetable nor a negotiated settlement during the exchangeMeanwhile The New York Times reported that US agencies assessed threats against Americans in the Middle East and several other countries as their highest since the war began The newspaper cited unnamed US officialsIts report described potential targets in Europe and intelligence suggesting Iran might have operatives in the United States Another official however cautioned that Iranrsquos ability to conduct overseas attacks was limited and fell short of its ambitions Those assessments were not independently verifiedThe warning was conveyed in an October 23 memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to Secretary of State Marco RubioA US official had previously confirmed the memo and said threats from Iran and Yemenrsquos Houthi forces were informing embassy staffing decisionsldquoWhen it comes to our staffing at embassies we constantly evaluate new information about the security environmentrdquo the official saidThe conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February followed by Iranian attacks across the region Washington subsequently maintained a blockade of Iranian ports while diplomatic efforts continuedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever