President Trump is weighing whether to end the conflict with Iran or resume
large-scale military operations as advisers and allied officials are sharply
divided. Vice President Vance and envoy Witkoff favor a diplomatic resolution;
Defense Secretary Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper have briefed in
favor of restoring major military action. Secretary of State Rubio and Treasury
Secretary Bessent advocate tougher sanctions and continued trade blockade of
Iran. Qatar officials said on Friday they launched an 11th-hour mediation to
avert a new US strike, aim to bridge the parties, reopen the Strait of Hormuz
and lift the US blockade. Insiders said a proposed agreement would compress a
preliminary negotiation timetable from 60 days to two days and move almost
immediately into nuclear talks; one source said it could offer Trump a
face-saving route to begin ending the war. It is unclear whether Iran would
accept such terms.
