Donald Trump is facing three competing strategies over what comes next with Iran after the war became a major political liability following the Republican midterm defeat. JD Vance and Steve Witkoff are pushing diplomacy, with Vance reportedly driving intensive indirect contacts through Qatar, Pakistan and other intermediaries. A second camp including Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent favours maintaining sanctions and the blockade to pressure Tehran into greater concessions, although Bessent is also reportedly pursuing Chinese mediation. The third camp, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper, supports renewed major military action, while Benjamin Netanyahu has also pushed Trump towards further strikes. Trump has not yet chosen between negotiating, maintaining economic pressure or returning to major combat. His warning suggests that decision may be close: “Now we will make a decision.”