Did we win? Is the war technically over, do you think, General Keene?

no i don't think it is and for a couple reasons one uh... is we're not finished with them on the nuclear business they have highly enriched uranium that's still in their possession they have the means to enrich more uranium and technically they have centrifuges and cascades which are vital indices to be able to enrich uranium.

So we can't end it as it is right now.

They're not going to give up their nuclear enterprise to us.

They're not going to make a consequential deal.

I think the President and his intelligence agencies and the people around him certainly have come to that conclusion.

We've held that conclusion from the outset at the Institute for the Study of War that that the iranians have no intention to make a deal they want to go back to all the objectives they all they originally have and that is a nuclear weapon a very sophisticated and robust ballistic missile program with drone inventory significant and funding all their proxies destroy the state of israel drive the united states out of the region that is who they are they haven't changed i joe the only the only way the iranian threat goes away is with the people who are leading the country have to go away and i think the only way we're going to get there uh...

Correct, General?

General Jack Keane, how big of a deal is this, and what are the repercussions, obviously?

Well, the four countries China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, you know, several years ago came together because they believed that they could exploit what they perceived in a previous administration was leadership vulnerabilities.

And, and they saw opportunity and they have, they help each other in everything that they're doing.

So the three countries are helping Russia and Ukraine.

And the other three countries and the three countries are helping Iran in the Middle East.

And that's just the reality of it.

And it's been that way since day one.

The way I see it, the IRG has to go, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Saudis and Israelis just decide it's better to ask the president for forgiveness, beg for forgiveness, than to ask permission.

Uh, General Jack Keane, how big of a deal is this and, and what is... what are the repercussions, obviously?

Well, [coughs] the four countries, China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, you know, several years ago came together because they believed that they could exploit what they perceived in a previous administration was leadership vulnerabilities, and, and they saw opportunity.

And they have- they help each other i- in everything that they're doing.

So the three countries are helping Russia and Ukraine, and the other three country... and the three countries are helping Iran, uh, in the Middle East, and that's just the reality of it, and it's been that way, uh, since day one.

Um, the, the fact that missile components are now going to the Houthis, where in the past they were going, uh, full volume into Iran and still do- going there, uh, much more challenging now with the, the best in isolation of Iran, [coughs] uh, i- is not surprising, uh, because Russia and China both want a foothold in the Middle East, and they clearly want Iran to succeed and they want the United States and Israel to lose.

That is what they're doing, and providing them, uh, w- with missile components i- is part of that support and, and that end state that they so desire.

And listen, so our audience to understand, the Houth- the Houthis, they have 250,000 fighters.

Uh, the way I see it, the IRG has to go, and, um, it wouldn't surprise me if the Saudis and the Israelis just decide it's better to ask the President for forgiveness, beg for forgiveness than ask permission.

General Jack Keane, how big of a deal is this, and, and what is, what are the repercussions, obviously?

obviously?Well, [coughs] the four countries, China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, you know, several years ago came together because they believed that they could exploit what they perceived in the previous administration was leadership vulnerabilities, and, and they saw opportunity.

And they have-- they help each other th- in everything that they're doing.

So the three countries are helping Russia and Ukraine, and the other three country-- and the three countries are helping Iran, uh, in the Middle East.

And that's just the reality of it, and it's been that way, uh, since day one.

Um, the, the fact that missile components are now going to the Houthis, where in the past they were going, uh, full volume into Iran and still go-going there, uh, much more challenging now with the, the best in isolation of Iran, uh, i- is not surprising, uh, because Russia and China both want a foothold in the Middle East.

And they clearly want Iran to succeed, and they want the United States and Israel to lose.

Uh, the way I see it, the IRG has to go, and, um, it wouldn't surprise me if the Saudis and the Israelis just decide it's better to ask the president for forgiveness, beg for forgiveness than ask permission.

What do you hear? What do you make of it?

Well, I think the president has told us time and again.

When he went to the ceasefire on April the 7th, lured by the Iranians' prospects of making a deal over the Straits of Luz, that turned out not to be the case.

And hopefully we were going to get a deal over the nuclear situation.

That turned out not to be the case.

So the diplomatic effort hasn't succeeded.

The president never, ever took combat operations off the table.

That is something.

They also interviewed another 26-year-old man in the investigation of this case that may have been plotting an attack on this U.S.-U.K. base in England.

Well, it seems pretty obvious that the steps are coming closer to Iran and having accountability here.

And certainly that's the case.

And listen, they've been active for a long time here.

I mean, I've been dealing with a high British source that indicated that the MI5 and the police in the last five years have disrupted 19 late-stage Iranian attacks in the U.K. That's not publicly common knowledge, but that's a fact.

So it gives you a sense, once again, to remind our own people, you know, how extensive Iran is in terms of being just not a predator in the region, but the exporter of terrorism around the world.

And they're linked with China, they're linked with Russia, they're linked with Iran.

Your thoughts on that looking back, General?

Uh, well, General Keane, we, we, we begin with, uh, Putin and the Ukraine.

Sure.

I mean, where we are, we're i- in the fifth year of war.

Uh, Russia, who, uh, invaded Ukraine thinking it would take two to three weeks, the reality is that they're not going to take control of Ukraine, not tone- today, not tomorrow, not a year or two years from now.

It is not going to happen.

The Ukrainians, uh, are more than adequately defending.

They have stopped Putin's army, which is considerably larger than theirs, cold, and they are now taking back territory from, uh, Putin's occupied area.

Any possibility of, uh, this, uh, trying to affect the midterms in the next three weeks?

Uh, and Putin and the Ukraine or, uh, is that a good place to start?

Sure.

I mean, where we are, we're in the fifth year of war.

Uh, Russia, who, uh, invaded Ukraine, thinking it would take two to three weeks, the reality is that they're not going to take control of Ukraine, not tonet- today, not tomorrow, not a year or two years from now.

It is not going to happen.

Uh, the Ukrainians, uh, are more than adequately defending.

Uh, they have stopped, uh, Putin's army, which is considerably larger than theirs, cold, and they are now taking back territory from, uh, Putin's occupied area.

Any possibility of, uh, this, uh, trying to affect the midterms, uh, in the next three weeks?

And they're still taking out the people that caused that, General, correct?

I absolutely think so.

I mean, in a sense, the nation certainly is somewhat traumatized by what took place on October the 7th.

It's such a small country, 7 million Jews there.

And 1,200 killed.

That's tens of thousands equivalent in our country for a similar type event.

Really quite dramatic for them.

And the problem is that Paris is because they are too soft, sir.

I mean, really, this looks like it could be a moment when your least expected stuff happens.

Well, yeah, it's tough to know what's really going on in their heads.

But look, this plan that Secretary Besson put together, we've said here many times, the most comprehensive economic isolation of a country we've ever seen.

And I certainly applaud all of what he is doing and his team.

And it takes a lot of vigilance to enforce it.

They're doing that.

The other thing is the blockade itself.

And historically, that is a revolutionary moment.

What did you learn there, and how do you think things are going there?

Yeah, sure.

Yeah, thanks for the opportunity.

I spent a considerable amount of time in meeting with the top civilian and military leaders, the president of the country, the prime minister, the top military commanders, the Mossad chief currently and the former one.

And certainly, as you mentioned, I had to get out to see Gaza with the field commanders and assess that situation and also in Lebanon.

And My takeaways are, number one, is the IDF and CENTCOM, Israel and the United States, working together, dealing with this challenge with Iran and its proxies.

This is the best cooperation and collaboration we have had in some time with an ally.

Give us a take on that as well.

Wow.

So, um, like, the first t- takeaway is how well the Israeli military and the US military are working together.

The cooperation, the collaboration is extraordinary.

Joe, uh, so our audience understands, we have not been able to work with an ally who has the similar capabilities, the same value system, the same determination that we have s- had since World War II, and that, that's a fact.

E- every ally we've walked to, had to work with in the past, uh, never had the same capability.

Sometimes they didn't have the same will and determination that we had, but we dealt with it.

Uh, this ally has all of that and then some, and we operate on a, on a similar plane.

Mm

Wow.

So the reality is, is that where Israel is, they are as committed to ever...

They know, like we do, that the center of gravity here is Iran, and that should be the focus.

They're also dealing, obviously, with Hezbollah and also Hamas in a consequential way.

But they're 100% supporting the president's initiative, keep the blockade going, shut down Iran economically as a result of oil distribution and other things coming out of there.

Secondly... support Secretary Besson's very comprehensive program on sanctions.

And also, they're dealing with two realities.

there

Wow.

So the reality is, is that...

Where Israel is, they are as committed to ever.

They know, like we do, that the center of gravity here is Iran, and that should be the focus.

They're also dealing, obviously, with Hezbollah and also Hamas in a consequential way.

But they're 100% supporting the president's initiative, keep the blockade going, shut down Iran economically as a result of oil distribution and other things, coming out of there.

Secondly, support, uh, secretary Besson's very comprehensive program on sanctions and, and also they're dealing with two realities, uh, Gaza.

Yeah, so what does that mean? That's a big deal, Jack.

Wow.

So the reality is, is that where Israel is, they are as committed to ever...

They know, like we do, that the center of gravity here is Iran, and that should be the focus.

They're also dealing, obviously, with Hezbollah and also Hamas in a consequential way.

But they're 100% supporting the president's initiative, keep the blockade going, shut down Iran economically as a result of oil distribution and other things coming out of there.

Secondly... support Secretary Besson's very comprehensive program on sanctions.

And also, they're dealing with two realities.

Yeah, so what does that mean? That's a big deal, Jack.

Wow.

So the reality is, is that...

Where Israel is, they are as committed to ever.

They know, like we do, that the center of gravity here is Iran, and that should be the focus.

They're also dealing, obviously, with Hezbollah and also Hamas in a consequential way.

But they're 100% supporting the president's initiative, keep the blockade going, shut down Iran economically as a result of oil distribution and other things.

coming out of there.

Yeah, so what does that mean? That's a big deal, Jack.

How do you see it, General Keen?

Well, first of all, there's no doubt that Israel is supporting the president's objectives.

They know full well they're in a phase here with significant pressure being applied by a blockade and by Secretary Besson's very comprehensive sanctions that he's putting on the regime.

That's a fact.

But they're also ready for the return to major combat operations.

So the pathway we're on right now is, What appears pretty obvious, Iran is not going to make concessions to a deal that would meet our objectives.

We're almost six months since the ceasefire on April the 7th, and we don't have a consequential deal.

The question is, General Keene, what about additional combat operations? In your judgment, right now, does it make sense? Do you think President Trump should, you know, deliver a stern warning to the Iranian president at the U.N.? How does this work, sir?

it affects war and national security, then I have to say some things about it.

No, no, that's when I get involved in it as well here.

But there's no doubt those are issues here.

But the major issue in front of the United States is I think the president is of a mind he will finish Iran and not pass this problem on to his successor.

And that means you can't make a deal with them because they won't make it, they won't comply with it.

And if you do make a deal with them, so our audience understands, we would have to finance their recovery.

And that means we extend the lifeline to the regime to let them exist for years to come.

Are we getting the straight home moves? Are we getting more boats out?

it affects war and national security, then I have to say some things about it.

No, no, that's when I get involved in it as well here.

But there's no doubt those are issues here.

But the major issue in front of the United States is I think the president is of a mind he will finish Iran and not pass this problem on to his successor.

And that means you can't make a deal with them because they won't make it, they won't comply with it.

And if you do make a deal with them, so our audience understands, we would have to finance their recovery.

And that means we extend the lifeline to the regime to let them exist for years to come.

Are we getting the straight home moves? Are we getting more boats out?

it affects war and national security, then I have to say some things about it.

No, no, that's when I get involved in it as well here.

But there's no doubt those are issues here.

But the major issue in front of the United States is I think the president is of a mind he will finish Iran and not pass this problem on to his successor.

And that means you can't make a deal with them because they won't make it, they won't comply with it.

And if you do make a deal with them, so our audience understands, we would have to finance their recovery.

And that means we extend the lifeline to the regime to let them exist for years to come.

Are we getting the straight-at-home moves? Are we getting more boats out?

it affects war and national security, then I have to say some things about it.

No, no, that's when I get involved in it as well here.

But there's no doubt those are issues here.

But the major issue in front of the United States is I think the president is of a mind he will finish Iran and not pass this problem on to his successor.

And that means you can't make a deal with them because they won't make it, they won't comply with it.

And if you do make a deal with them, so our audience understands, we would have to finance their recovery.

And that means we extend the lifeline to the regime to let them exist for years to come.

Are we getting straight home moves? Are we getting more boats out?

General Keane, what the heck is going on?

Well, for sure, obviously, we're retaliating against the attack they made on us the other night.

And certainly this is really what's happening here is Iran slowly but surely is losing its grip on the Straits of Hormuz as, you know, Admiral Cooper and his team cleared the central corridor, which is in international waters.

And once that was cleared...

The Iranians then were going to fire two rockets that would deposit mines in that corridor that CENTCOM had cleared.

And obviously, Cooper has the authority to conduct an attack, which is called a preemption attack.

If the enemy is about to do harm and we detect it, he's authorized to take that action himself, which he did.

But what's going on there?

General Keane, what the heck is going on?

Well, for sure, obviously, we're retaliating against the attack they made on us the other night.

And, Charlie, this is really what's happening here is Iran slowly but surely is losing its grip on the Straits of Hormuz as, you know, Admiral Cooper and his team cleared the central corridor, which is in international waters.

And once that was cleared...

The Iranians then were going to fire two rockets that would deposit mines in that corridor that CENTCOM had cleared.

And obviously, Cooper has the authority to conduct an attack, which is called a preemption attack.

If the enemy is about to do harm and we detect it, he's authorized to take that action himself, which he did.

But what's going on there?

General Keane, what the heck is going on?

Well, for sure, obviously, we're retaliating against the attack they made on us the other night.

And, Charlie, this is really what's happening here is Iran slowly but surely is losing its grip on the Straits of Hormuz as, you know, Admiral Cooper and his team cleared the central corridor, which is in international waters.

And once that was cleared...

The Iranians then were going to fire two rockets that would deposit mines in that corridor that CENTCOM had cleared.

And obviously, Cooper has the authority to conduct an attack, which is called a preemption attack.

If the enemy is about to do harm and we detect it, he's authorized to take that action himself, which he did.

But what's going on there?

General Keane, what the heck is going on?

Well, for sure, obviously we're retaliating against the attack they made on us the other night.

And certainly this is really what's happening here is Iran slowly but surely is losing its grip on the Straits of Hormuz as, you know, Admiral Cooper and his team cleared the central corridor, which is in international waters.

And once that was cleared, the Iranians then were going to fire two rockets that would deposit mines in those very, in that corridor that CENTCOM had cleared.

And obviously, Cooper has the authority to conduct an attack, which is called the preemption attack.

If the enemy is about to do harm and we detect it, he's authorized to take that action himself, which he did.

And obviously then Iran retaliated, and we're doing much the same in kind tonight.

But what's going on there?