(SeaPRwire) – By: Gavin Thorne
Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane’s public rebuke of U.S.-Iran talks mediators isn’t just a casual critique. He told Fox News’ America’s Newsroom that Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are “compromised” in their roles. Keane claimed the three nations favor Tehran over Washington, a view he said is shared by U.S. intelligence across the Middle East. This stands in stark contrast to President Donald Trump’s repeated public praise for the same regional partners. Trump called Pakistan “terrific” in an April 26 interview, and credited the group after the June 18 G7 summit in France.
Keane’s criticism centers on two core claims. First, he argues Pakistan and Qatar have steered Trump away from military pressure on Iran. Second, he claims Saudi Arabia blocked U.S. access to its airspace and bases during planned Strait of Hormuz operations. He also said Riyadh repeatedly persuaded Trump to skip major military strikes against Tehran. The White House quickly defended the mediators, with spokesperson Anna Kelly praising their involvement in diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan and Qatar formally mediated the June 22 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. That framework set up working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, and Strait of Hormuz vessel safety. Pakistan declined to comment on Keane’s remarks, while Saudi and Qatari embassies in D.C. did not respond. Pakistani editor Raza Rumi pushed back, saying mediation success relies on cross-side communication, not ideological alignment with Iran. He noted Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and pointed to January 2024 cross-border strikes as proof ties aren’t uniformly close. He also argued it’s a stretch to blame Pakistani mediation for U.S. misreading of Iran’s intentions.
The split among Gulf states is already plainly visible. An anonymous Gulf affairs analyst noted Saudi Arabia and Qatar favor accommodation with Iran. The UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait back stronger pressure on Tehran instead. Saudi geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari pushed back on Keane’s take. He said Riyadh supports credible deterrence but not unplanned, unstructured regional war. He added any deal must address Iran’s nuclear program and regional proxy groups.
Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council official, noted Washington still relies on Saudi infrastructure. He pointed to Saudi overland pipelines running at full capacity through the Red Sea. This allows the U.S. to continue its “strangulation” strategy against Iran, even with policy disagreements. Keane also warned Iran will not surrender meaningful control of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a core strategic asset. Mediators are now working on a second MOU focused solely on the waterway, to separate maritime tensions from broader nuclear disputes.
The only certain outcome of this mediator debate is that U.S.-Iran talks will remain trapped in mutual mistrust for the foreseeable future.
Author bio: Gavin Thorne, an investigative journalist based in Washington, D.C., tracking special interests and legislative affairs for independent outlets.