Officials say Pompeo, who served as a congressman from the Wichita area for six years before joining the Trump administration in 2017, wants to remain secretary of state out of a concern that he has unfinished business to complete.

The primary focus of his tenure has been dismantling the Iran nuclear deal struck during the Obama administration and a campaign of economic and military pressure against Tehran. Though he has claimed the administration’s policies have made the Middle East “more peaceful,” Iran’s nuclear program has only grown more sophisticated following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal, and violence against U.S. and coalition forces by Iranian-backed groups has increased.

McConnell has repeatedly tried to persuade Pompeo to run for the seat, seeing him as the ideal candidate, according to people close to the majority leader. Trump was initially skeptical of the bid, seeing Pompeo as one of his most valuable and trustworthy members of his Cabinet. Some people close to McConnell were frustrated when Pompeo decided against the bid in January.

There are broader concerns among Republican strategists that the pandemic and Trump’s response to the outbreak could make for a perilous political environment this fall for the GOP.