Retired General Jack Keane says US President Donald Trump has lost confidence in the possibility of reaching a negotiated agreement with Iran’s leadership, citing repeated breakdowns in trust.
Speaking as a senior strategic analyst on Fox News on Friday, July 17, 2026, Keane said Trump believes Iranian leaders have repeatedly failed to negotiate in good faith.
“The president has reached a point where he knows in his own mind that you cannot make a deal with these guys, because they lie, lie, and lie, and he is fed up with it,” Keane said.
Keane also outlined what he described as the current military strategy, saying it involves limiting Iran’s ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting key transport infrastructure, and carrying out broader strikes against missile, drone, air defence, and command facilities to reduce Iran’s capacity to retaliate.
He said the expanding military operations reflect the administration’s growing frustration and suggested further strikes, including against senior leadership targets, could follow if Iran does not change course.
Addressing reports of divisions within Iran’s leadership, Keane said he believes the country’s political and military leaders remain largely united despite mounting pressure.
