According to Fox Tv on Thursday, May 21st 2026, Retired U.S. Army General Jack Keane has argued that proposed diplomatic arrangements with Iran risk undermining earlier strategic objectives, warning that sanctions relief could strengthen Tehran’s long-term financial and military position.
Speaking during a televised interview, Keane said that any agreement involving the release of frozen assets would significantly improve Iran’s economic standing and extend the lifespan of its current leadership structure. “If we cut a deal, we have give them unfrozen assets, billions of dollars, extending their lifeline,” he said.
Keane added that this approach diverges from what he described as the original intent of sustained pressure on Iran. “That is not where we started on this thing,” he stated, suggesting that earlier policy goals were more focused on long-term degradation of Iranian capabilities.
He also pointed to the time spent in negotiations, arguing that diplomatic efforts have so far failed to produce a workable agreement. “Seem to me we’ve been trying to get a deal for six weeks,” Keane said. “Military operation would have largely been over by now and certainly some pressure that the administration feels would have been removed by that point in my judgement.”
In his assessment, the current situation calls for a shift away from negotiations and toward renewed strategic enforcement measures. “Where we are now is we can’t seem to get a deal,” he said.
Keane argued that the United States and its allies should return to an earlier strategic framework centered on coordinated military pressure. “We need to go back to where we start from, renew commitment to original goal of the regime and conduct this combined operation with Israelis and United States,” he stated.
He further claimed that both intelligence capabilities and operational readiness are sufficient to support such an approach. “We are full magazine depth, we have exquisite intelligence of what we need to do and where we need to do it,” Keane said.
According to him, a coordinated military campaign would have significant effects on Iran’s operational capacity. “The attacks are going to are quite devastating reducing their capabilities for future,” he added…See More
