By Gloria Ogbonna
During Tuesday’s broadcast of Hannity on Fox News Channel, Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst Gen. Jack Keane (Ret.) raised concerns about the ongoing negotiations with Iran, suggesting that talks have stretched far beyond their originally stated timeline and may not be producing a meaningful agreement.
Keane pointed out that what was initially presented as a two-week deadline to secure a deal has now extended to six weeks, with little tangible progress. “We’re six weeks in to what was supposed to be a two-week deadline to get a deal,” he said. “And it just seems to be kicking down the road, time and time again.”
Concerns Over Substance of the Deal
Keane emphasized his belief that President Donald Trump would not accept an unfavorable agreement, describing the president as “the nation’s backstop.” However, he questioned whether the current negotiations are yielding anything substantive enough to justify continued delays.
According to Keane, while discussions may appear to be advancing on the surface, the core elements necessary for a viable agreement are still lacking. He suggested that diplomatic maneuvering, possibly involving regional actors such as Pakistan, may be aimed at encouraging the United States to move closer to a deal framework. Yet when it comes to finalizing concrete terms, Keane argued that there remains no substantial agreement acceptable to U.S. leadership.
“It looks like we’re getting closer to the deal,” Keane said, “but when it comes to actually putting the facts on the table, there’s no deal of substance there that we’re willing to accept.”
Financial Implications and Sanctions Relief
One of Keane’s primary concerns centered on the financial provisions that could be included in a potential agreement. He noted that any finalized deal would likely involve unfreezing Iranian assets — potentially as much as $100 billion — though not necessarily all at once. Some of the funds, he said, could be released immediately, while the remainder might be conditioned on Iran’s compliance with certain terms.
Additionally, sanctions currently imposed on Iran could be lifted or eased under the framework of a deal. Keane warned that such financial relief would not only help stabilize Iran’s economy but could also strengthen the ruling regime’s long-term survival and recovery.
“That begins to finance not only the survival of the regime, but the recovery of it,” Keane explained. In his view, this could lock the United States into years of continued dealings with Tehran, limiting leverage and complicating future diplomatic or strategic efforts. “There are limitations to this deal,” he cautioned.
Regional Security and Energy Infrastructure
Beyond the diplomatic and financial considerations, Keane also addressed the broader security implications in the Middle East. He suggested that the United States and its allies could develop a defensive strategy aimed at protecting critical energy infrastructure across the region.
He proposed that Washington make it clear to Iran that any attack on oil fields or energy facilities in neighboring countries would trigger a direct response against Iran’s own oil and gas infrastructure. Such a deterrent, Keane argued, could serve as a stabilizing force and reduce the likelihood of escalation.
In summary, Keane’s remarks reflected skepticism about the pace and substance of the negotiations, concerns about the financial consequences of sanctions relief, and a call for firm deterrence measures to protect regional energy assets.
Source Breitbart
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