Retired Army General Jack Keane offered a sobering assessment of President Donald Trump’s newly announced ceasefire agreement with Iran, warning that Tehran may be leveraging the deal to its advantage while maintaining control over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.
Appearing on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom alongside hosts Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino, Keane pushed back on optimistic claims from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had characterized the ceasefire as a decisive American victory. Instead, Keane suggested the situation on the ground tells a more complicated story—one that raises concerns about whether the United States is gaining meaningful leverage or simply pausing a conflict on Iran’s terms.
The backdrop to the agreement was a dramatic escalation. In a Truth Social post Tuesday morning, Trump warned that Iranian “civilization” could be wiped out if Tehran failed to meet U.S. demands by an 8 p.m. deadline. However, just hours before that deadline expired, the president agreed to extend negotiations by two weeks following a proposal from Pakistan. Hegseth noted that U.S. forces had been “locked and loaded” and prepared to strike infrastructure targets prior to the last-minute extension.
Keane, however, urged viewers to consider the broader strategic picture, particularly Iran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway is a vital artery for global energy markets, with roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passing through it. According to Keane, Iran has not relinquished its grip on the strait, and in fact, continues to assert authority over maritime traffic in the region.
He described Iran’s leadership as “masters of obfuscation and delay,” arguing that their primary objective in shutting down the strait was to halt the conflict. In Keane’s view, that objective has now been achieved. “We have indeed stopped the war,” he noted, adding that Iran remains firmly in control, with its Revolutionary Guard naval forces reportedly requiring ships to seek permission before passing through the strait.
That reality, Keane implied, undercuts the notion of a clear-cut U.S. victory. While the ceasefire may have halted immediate hostilities, it has not fundamentally altered the balance of power in the region. Instead, Iran appears to retain both strategic leverage and the ability to influence global oil flows.
Trump has floated the idea of a potential “joint venture” between the United States and Iran to manage the strait, a proposal that underscores the administration’s interest in stabilizing the region. Still, Keane cautioned that Tehran’s negotiating strategy is likely focused less on resolution and more on buying time.
He warned that Iran will seek to prolong talks, offering assurances that progress is being made while quietly working to ease external pressure. As time passes, Keane argued, oil prices could decline, reducing economic strain on the U.S. and diminishing the urgency for further military action. In that environment, Iran may be betting that the president will be less inclined to resume strikes weeks down the line.
Keane ultimately recommended a tougher stance, including a clearer ultimatum that would require Iran to halt attacks on U.S. allies in the region. Without such pressure, he suggested, the current ceasefire risks becoming less a step toward peace and more a pause that allows a determined adversary to regroup.
The general’s remarks highlight a persistent tension in foreign policy: the desire to avoid prolonged conflict while ensuring that temporary truces do not come at the cost of long-term strategic disadvantage.
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