Trump warns Iran of military escalation as oil blockade halts exports

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday, 7 October, that Washington will soon decide between a diplomatic or military resolution to the ongoing conflict with Iran, stating the U.S. will choose to end the war either the "nice way or the not-so-nice way." The statement, delivered during an address in Maryland, comes as a U.S.-led naval blockade has reportedly halted Iranian crude oil exports entirely since late August. Missile Intercepted Over Riyadh The security situation escalated on Wednesday, 7 October, as Yemen’s Houthi militia launched a ballistic missile targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed the missile was intercepted and destroyed north of the capital. In a statement on X, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the strike was accurate and caused air traffic disruptions, while the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation of the "flagrant violation" of Saudi sovereignty and threats to Red Sea maritime security. Economic Blockade Stalls Oil Exports U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted the severity of the economic pressure on Tehran, noting that tanker-tracking data shows Iran has not loaded a single barrel of crude since 25 August. This revenue collapse coincided with a leadership shuffle in Tehran; President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted the resignation of Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad, appointing Hamid Bovard as acting minister. President Trump told reporters that the…