Pete Hegseth presses Trump to continue Iran war as JD Vance and Marco Rubio push for diplomacy amid White House divisions

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been urging President Donald Trump to continue military operations against Iran, putting him at odds with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have favored diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper reported Thursday, November 5, that disagreements among senior administration officials have intensified following Republican defeats in the midterm elections, with Trump facing competing recommendations on whether to resume major strikes or pursue a negotiated settlement.

Some White House advisers have blamed Hegseth for persuading Trump that the war would be a short military operation comparable to the U.S. mission that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Instead, the conflict has continued for months, with rising energy prices and public dissatisfaction contributing to the political pressure facing the administration.

Vance, who opposed the war privately before it began, has supported negotiations with Tehran and warned about the consequences of prolonging the fighting. Rubio has also participated in discussions aimed at finding a diplomatic way forward, although senior officials have differed over how much military and economic pressure Washington should maintain.

Hegseth, meanwhile, has advocated further military action as the Pentagon prepares for the possibility of renewed large-scale combat operations.

The disagreements became more pronounced after Vance publicly blamed the Iran war for the Republican Party’s election defeat, breaking with Trump’s continued defense of the military campaign.

Trump acknowledged Wednesday that the conflict had contributed to higher gasoline prices and Republican losses but insisted that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remained a priority.

The president also defended Hegseth when asked whether he was considering replacing him, saying the defense secretary was doing a very good job.

The administration has yet to announce whether it will authorize another major military offensive or move toward an agreement with Tehran, while preparations for renewed operations and diplomatic contacts continue.