After midterm defeat, Trump faces mostly bad options in Iran

President Trump has conceded that the Iran war cost Republicans dearly in the midterms.

Now he must decide whether to cut his losses and reach a deal — or double down and go back to bombing.

Why it matters: All of Trump's options are problematic:The first is to strike.

But going back to war would be highly unpopular — keeping gas prices high and probably not yielding a better military result.

Another is to negotiate.

But if the Iranians refuse to make concessions — or, sensing weakness after the president's political loss, up their demands — Trump will have a hard time reaching a deal.The third is to "strangle," as aides put it.

This would mean sticking with the status quo — the naval blockade coupled with crippling economic sanctions that leave the Iranian regime to "rot" — while continuing to test its appetite for a deal.

This path, however, could take months to show progress.The big picture: The president has said for weeks he would end the war one way or another after the election.

One of his former advisers told Axios: "It's one thing to lose the midterms.

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