Ex-General Urges Trump To Abandon Iran Talks And Resume War Keane Says Tehran Is Playing For TimeRetired four-star General Jack Keane has urged President Donald Trump to abandon hopes of a nuclear deal with Iran, arguing that Tehran is deliberately dragging out negotiations while rebuilding its military strength. The former Army vice chief of staff said eight weeks of diplomacy had produced nothing and warned that Iran's leadership was using talks to buy time. "We have to accept the reality that's just not going to happen," Keane told Fox News. According to Keane, Iranian leaders believe that stretching negotiations closer to the US midterm elections will make it politically harder for Trump to restart military operations. 'Fruitless' Talks CriticisedKeane argued that Iran has no genuine intention of reaching a lasting agreement. He claimed Tehran's strategy is to preserve the regime, regain lost military capabilities and wait for political conditions in Washington to become more favourable. The retired general also dismissed the value of any future agreement, arguing that Iran has repeatedly violated past commitments and would do so again if sanctions were eased. "We can't throw them a financial lifeline," he said. "They've always cheated in the past, and they'll cheat in the future." Trump Praised For Military ActionDespite criticising the current diplomatic track, Keane praised Trump's decision to launch military operations against Iran earlier this year. He argued that the campaign significantly weakened Iran's military capabilities and damaged its economy. "Five weeks of Epic Fury and a naval blockade devastated this regime militarily and economically," Keane said. "They're down, but they're not out." Call To 'Go Big'Keane insisted that if military action resumes, Washington should avoid limited strikes and instead launch a comprehensive campaign aimed at crippling the regime's remaining military assets. "Iran is going to retaliate regardless of whether you go small or go big. Let's go big," he said. He argued that the objective should be to destroy as much military capability as possible while increasing economic pressure on Tehran. According to Keane, such a strategy could place the Iranian government on a path toward collapse. Military Sources Question Diplomatic PathThe comments come amid growing debate inside US national security circles over whether diplomacy can achieve Washington's objectives. Some military sources have suggested that further limited strikes are unlikely to force meaningful concessions from Iran's leadership. Officials have privately pointed to the ideological nature of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the determination of hardline factions within the regime as reasons why military pressure alone may not produce a negotiated settlement. Regime Change Debate Re-EmergesThe discussion has also revived questions over whether weakening Iran's government should be an explicit objective. One military source suggested that any future campaign could involve Israeli support for targeted strikes against senior regime figures, while US forces focused on weapons facilities, launch sites and strategic targets near the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to endorse that broader objective during an interview this week. "We've wreaked a lot of damage to this regime, not destroyed it, but weakened it," Netanyahu said. "We have to help the Iranian people to bring down this regime, and that hasn't changed." Pressure Builds On White HouseKeane's intervention highlights growing pressure on the Trump administration from hawkish voices who believe diplomacy has reached a dead end. While the White House continues to pursue negotiations and maintain a fragile ceasefire, critics argue that Iran is simply using the pause in fighting to recover from earlier military losses. The debate now centres on whether Washington should continue seeking a diplomatic breakthrough or return to military action in pursuit of a more decisive outcome. SOURCE
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