US Gen. Jack Keane said Iran could have been defeated – so why did Trump stop? – opinion

During an appearance on "Life, Liberty and Levin" on August 16, 2026, Gen. Jack Keane, former US Army vice chief of staff, discussed the US-Israel war with Iran, which began on February 28, 2026. Keane stated that 38 days of military action were dedicated to dismantling Iran's military capabilities, industrial base, infrastructure, leadership, and nuclear potential. He asserted that only two more weeks were needed to complete these objectives, which would have led to regime change in Iran. However, a ceasefire was declared on April 7, leaving the mission incomplete.

"taking away Iran's military capabilities, destroying its industrial base and infrastructure, taking out the leadership and all of its nuclear potential."

The article questions why the war was stopped prematurely, especially when Iran was reportedly on the verge of collapse. It suggests that former US President Donald J. Trump was responsible for the decision to halt military operations in favor of diplomatic measures, despite Iran's history of breaking agreements. The author implies that this decision allowed Iran to regain strength and escalate its production of missiles and drones, leading to a more precarious situation.