Trump warns Iran of intensified military action as leadership vacuum grows

US President Donald Trump issued a final warning to Tehran on Wednesday, 7 October, stating that Washington will soon decide whether to end the ongoing conflict through a diplomatic settlement or an intensified military campaign. Speaking at an event in Maryland, Trump claimed Iranian military capabilities have been effectively neutralised and suggested the "whole place is shot," indicating a pivot toward a forced resolution. Leadership Vacuum in Tehran The White House has expressed growing uncertainty regarding Iran's internal command structure following the elimination of several tiers of leadership. President Trump told reporters on Wednesday that "nobody knows who the hell is running" the country. This sentiment was echoed by Vice President JD Vance, who confirmed that while backchannel discussions continue with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Washington remains unsure of their actual authority. The administrative shift follows the resignation of Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, who has been replaced by Hamid Bovard. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that tanker-tracking data shows Iran has not loaded a single barrel of crude since 25 August, questioning what the new minister is currently managing under the US-led naval blockade. Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz Regional tensions spiked as Oman’s Royal Air Force evacuated 10 crew members from the Panama-flagged vessel ON PEACE after it was struck by a projectile in the…