Gen Jack Keane claims Qatar and Pakistan are compromised on Iran

Key Points:

• Retired Army Gen. Jack Keane criticized Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as compromised mediators favoring Iran, accusing them of steering President Trump away from military pressure while leaving the U.S. and Israel to confront Tehran's risks.
• Despite Keane’s criticism, President Trump publicly praised Pakistan and Qatar for their roles in advancing U.S.-Iran negotiations, with the White House defending its regional partners' involvement.
• Pakistan’s editor-at-large Raza Rumi disputed Keane’s claims, emphasizing Pakistan’s geographic and security interests in maintaining communication with all parties rather than ideological bias toward Iran.
• Keane sharply criticized Saudi Arabia for denying U.S. access to airspace and military bases during potential operations against Iran, suggesting Riyadh prefers the U.S. and Israel to bear the costs of confronting Iran’s aggression.
• The debate reflects broader Gulf regional divides, with some states favoring diplomatic deterrence and others advocating stronger pressure on Iran, as ongoing negotiations focus on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz amid skepticism over Iran’s willingness to cede control.