Retired General Jack Keane exposes threat of compromised mediators in Iran talks
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane warned on Fox News that Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia cannot be trusted as mediators with Iran, accusing them of siding with Tehran and undermining U.S. interests—a stark reminder of the dangers of relying on unreliable partners in critical negotiations.
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane delivered a sobering assessment on Fox News, sounding the alarm about the dangers of trusting Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as mediators in negotiations with Iran. Keane argued these countries are 'compromised,' with a clear bias toward Tehran that threatens to undermine the hard-won leverage the United States has built against the Iranian regime.
'It is well known in the Middle East region, by our intelligence services, by all the players, that the Pakistanis and the Qataris are compromised because they favor Iran at the expense of the United States,' Keane stated, highlighting the grave risk of letting adversaries and their sympathizers shape the outcome of vital talks.
Keane’s warning stands in sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s public praise for Islamabad and Doha, who have been credited with advancing talks and helping to produce a U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding. Yet, as Keane points out, these so-called partners have their own agendas, and the White House, through spokesperson Anna Kelly, is too quick to defend them, insisting that any failure to reach a deal with Iran would be Iran’s fault alone.
The mediators are reportedly preparing a second memorandum focused on the Strait of Hormuz, attempting to separate maritime security from broader nuclear negotiations. Keane cautioned that the involvement of Pakistan and Qatar has already contributed to a dangerous U.S. misunderstanding of Iran’s intentions, putting American interests at risk.
'And yet they’re mediators. So their influence here, I think, had played a part in misleading the United States in terms of Iran’s real intentions,' he warned, underscoring the perils of entrusting critical security matters to unreliable actors.
Pakistan and Qatar issued a joint statement on June 22, confirming their role in facilitating talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which established working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and maritime safety. Pakistan refused to comment on Keane’s criticism, and the Saudi and Qatari embassies failed to respond—an ominous silence that speaks volumes.
Raza Rumi, editor-at-large of Pakistan’s The Friday Times, attempted to downplay the concerns, insisting that Islamabad’s engagement with Tehran is based on pragmatic considerations. But such claims cannot erase the reality that these countries have repeatedly shown willingness to side with Iran when it suits their interests.
Keane also criticized Saudi Arabia, revealing that Riyadh denied U.S. access to its airspace and bases during planning for a possible operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that Saudi officials have urged Trump not to resume major military actions against Iran—a clear indication that even supposed allies are unwilling to stand up to Iranian aggression.
'The fact of the matter is, the Saudis are not willing to sacrifice to rid the Middle East region of Iran’s aggression,' Keane asserted, exposing the weakness and self-interest of those who claim to be U.S. partners.
Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari insisted that Riyadh supports confronting Iranian aggression, but opposes open-ended war—an excuse that only emboldens Tehran. An anonymous Gulf affairs analyst suggested Saudi caution is driven by fear of retaliation, further proving that America cannot rely on others to defend its interests.
Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, pointed out that the United States still depends on Saudi infrastructure, including pipelines and shipping routes, to maintain pressure on Iran—a dangerous dependency that must be addressed.
Negotiations involving Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are ongoing to develop an interim arrangement for shipping through Iranian and Omani waters while broader nuclear talks continue. Keane rightly expressed skepticism that Iran would ever give up control of the Strait of Hormuz, recognizing it as a strategic asset the regime will never willingly surrender. America must remain vigilant and not be lulled into complacency by unreliable mediators.