Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane questioned whether Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia can be trusted to help shape negotiations with Iran, accusing the regional partners of steering President Donald Trump away from military pressure while leaving the United States and Israel to bear the risks of confronting Tehran.
Keane, a Fox News senior strategic analyst and former Army vice chief of staff, said during a Monday appearance on Fox News “Americas Newsroom” that Pakistan and Qatar were “compromised” as mediators because, in his view, they favor Iran over the United States.
“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 said. “This is historical. This is not new.”
Keanes criticism contrasts with Trumps public praise for Islamabad.
Trump said April 26 during a phone interview with Fox News that he had “great respect for Pakistan” because its officials had “been terrific” and “really tried” to advance negotiations with Iran. He added that Pakistan would remain involved in the process.
While speaking to reporters after the G7 summit in France on June 18, Trump also credited Pakistan and Qatar with helping advance the negotiations that produced the U.S.âIran memorandum of understanding.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly also defended the administrations regional partners, telling Fox News Digital that, “President Trump has great relationships with leaders from Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and he appreciates the involvement of all of our regional partners who are assisting with negotiations.”Â
“If Iran cannot agree to a good deal with the United States, the fault will lie squarely with the regime, who will suffer the consequences,” Kelly added.
Mediators were preparing a second memorandum focused exclusively on the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday reports indicated, potentially separating the immediate maritime crisis from the broader dispute over Irans nuclear activities.
Keane, a former four-star general, argued that their involvement may have contributed to Washington misunderstanding Irans intentions.
“And yet theyre mediators,” Keane said. “So their influence here, I think, had played a part in misleading the United States in terms of Irans real intentions.”
Pakistan and Qatar have played formal roles in the diplomatic process.
A June 22 joint statement from the two countries said they were mediating talks between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The framework established working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring and dispute resolution, as well as a mechanism intended to prevent incidents involving commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan declined to comment on Keanes criticism. The Saudi and Qatari embassies in Washington did not respond by the time of publication.
Raza Rumi, editor-at-large of Pakistans The Friday Times, disputed Keanes characterization, arguing that Islamabads working relationship with Tehran does not make it a compromised mediator.
“Successful mediators are often those that enjoy channels of communication with all sides,” Rumi told Fox News Digital
