Retired Gen. Jack Keane said a pending peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran must be strictly enforced to be successful [3].
The insistence on rigid enforcement stems from concerns over the reliability of Iranian leadership. Because the Iranian government has a history of violating international agreements, Keane said that a deal without a clear mechanism for accountability is unlikely to hold [3].
Speaking during an interview on Fox News’ ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ Keane said that the deal requires the explicit approval of the ayatollah to be finalized [1, 3]. He said that without the highest level of commitment from the Iranian religious leadership, the terms of the agreement could be ignored by other factions within the government.
Keane's perspective on the necessity of enforcement contrasts with some of his previous calls for more aggressive military action. While he has previously suggested the U.S. should resume bombing campaigns in Iran [2], his current focus is on the specific requirements for a diplomatic resolution to work [3].
Regarding the motivations of the Iranian government, Keane expressed skepticism about the leadership's commitment to its own citizens. "Iran's leaders certainly don't care what happens to their people," Keane said [2].
This emphasis on the ayatollah's approval highlights the centralized nature of power in Iran. Keane said that any diplomatic breakthrough is fragile unless the supreme leader is personally tied to the obligations of the treaty [3].
“Iran's leaders certainly don't care what happens to their people”
The debate over U.S.-Iran relations often splits between advocates for 'maximum pressure'—including military strikes—and those seeking diplomatic frameworks. Keane's position suggests a middle ground where diplomacy is only viable if it includes ironclad verification and the direct endorsement of Iran's supreme authority, reflecting a deep distrust of the Iranian state's willingness to adhere to international law.
