ITER is not our best bet for commercial fusion. ITER was a peace project between the USA and the Soviet Union.

https://www.cfs.energy

Side note, all fusion start ups have built upon decades of science research funded in the ITER program, so opposing ITER to fusion start ups is misleading

ITER is definitely the best bet for a workable fusion concept. There are some unsolved issues left, but its nothing compared to the sci-fi solutions most US startups would require.

CFS is ITER with better magnets.

Did you click the link? Nothing “sci-fi” about commonwealth fusion systems..

CFS is the most promising of the US startups. The reason being they have partially pivoted away from fusion towards superconducting magnets. Tbf their concept is also the most likely to succeed.

It is still more sci-fi than conventional fusion developments like ITER.

Source: I work in the field.