Retired Army General Jack Keane has raised doubts about the reliability of Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in shaping diplomatic negotiations with Iran. He accused these regional allies of influencing the direction away from military pressure, thereby leaving the United States and Israel to handle the challenge of confronting Tehran alone.

During his appearance on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” on Monday, Keane, a senior strategic analyst for the network and a former Army vice chief of staff, claimed that Pakistan and Qatar lack neutrality as mediators. According to him, their leaning towards Iran undermines U.S. interests.

“It’s a widely recognized fact in the Middle Eastern region, supported by our intelligence and regional players, that Pakistan and Qatar are compromised due to their pro-Iran stance, which comes at the expense of U.S. interests,” Keane remarked. “This situation has historical roots and is not a recent development.”

Contrasting Keane’s critical view is former President Trump’s supportive comments regarding Islamabad.

Trump said April 26 during a phone interview with Fox News that he had “great respect for Pakistan” because its officials had “been terrific” and “really tried” to advance negotiations with Iran. He added that Pakistan would remain involved in the process.

While speaking to reporters after the G7 summit in France on June 18, Trump also credited Pakistan and Qatar with helping advance the negotiations that produced the U.S.–Iran memorandum of understanding.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly also defended the administration’s regional partners, telling News Media that, “President Trump has great relationships with leaders from Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and he appreciates the involvement of all of our regional partners who are assisting with negotiations.” 

“If Iran cannot agree to a good deal with the United States, the fault will lie squarely with the regime, who will suffer the consequences,” Kelly added.

Mediators were preparing a second memorandum focused exclusively on the Strait of Hormuz, Wednesday reports indicated, potentially separating the immediate maritime crisis from the broader dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Keane, a former four-star general, argued that their involvement may have contributed to Washington misunderstanding Iran’s intentions.

“And yet they’re mediators,” Keane said. “So their influence here, I think, had played a part in misleading the United States in terms of Iran’s real intentions.”

Pakistan and Qatar have played formal roles in the diplomatic process.

A June 22 joint statement from the two countries said they were mediating talks between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. The framework established working groups on nuclear issues, sanctions, monitoring and dispute resolution, as well as a mechanism intended to prevent incidents involving commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan declined to comment on Keane’s criticism. The Saudi and Qatari embassies in Washington did not respond by the time of publication.

Raza Rumi, editor-at-large of Pakistan’s The Friday Times, disputed Keane’s characterization, arguing that Islamabad’s working relationship with Tehran does not make it a compromised mediator.

“Successful mediators are often those that enjoy channels of communication with all sides,” Rumi told News Media, saying Pakistan’s approach is shaped more by geography, security and economic concerns than ideological alignment with Iran.

He noted that Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and wants to prevent further instability, while also maintaining longstanding ties with the United States and close partnerships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Rumi also pointed to the exchange of strikes between Pakistan and Iran in January 2024 as evidence that relations between the neighbors are not uniformly close.

“The suggestion that Pakistan somehow caused Washington to misunderstand Tehran’s intentions is difficult to substantiate,” Rumi said. “It would be a considerable stretch to attribute any American misreading of Iran’s intentions to Pakistani mediation.”

Keane directed even sharper criticism at Saudi Arabia, saying that Riyadh denied the United States access to Saudi airspace and a U.S. air base during preparations for a possible operation to forcibly reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He also claimed Saudi officials had repeatedly persuaded Trump not to resume major military operations against Iran.

“The fact of the matter is, the Saudis are not willing to sacrifice to rid the Middle East region of Iran’s aggression,” Keane said, describing the potential costs as casualties and damage to Saudi oil infrastructure.

“They’re willing for us to make that sacrifice, for sure,” he added. “They’re willing for Israel to make that sacrifice, for sure.”

His remarks highlighted a broader debate over whether Saudi caution represents an unwillingness to confront Tehran or a strategic effort to prevent an open-ended regional war.

Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, rejected the suggestion that Riyadh is unwilling to confront Iran, saying the Kingdom distinguishes between credible deterrence and military action without clear objectives.

“Saudi Arabia supports confronting Iranian aggression, but not an open-ended regional war without clear objectives or an endgame,” Al-Ansari told News Media.

“Riyadh favors diplomacy backed by credible deterrence, but any agreement must be enforceable and verifiable, addressing Iran’s nuclear program, its proxies, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

A Gulf affairs analyst who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue offered a different assessment, saying Saudi leaders fear that a wider confrontation would expose the Kingdom’s critical infrastructure to Iranian retaliation.

“Saudi Arabia believes it should appease Iran because it is deeply concerned about the consequences of a broader confrontation,” the analyst said. “Riyadh fears the damage Iran could inflict on the Kingdom’s infrastructure and has therefore favored restraint and negotiations over a decisive military campaign.”

The analyst described a widening divide among Gulf states, arguing that Saudi Arabia and Qatar favor accommodation while the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait support stronger pressure on Iran.

Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank and former National Security Council official, said during a separate Fox News appearance Wednesday, that Washington continues to depend on Saudi infrastructure even as disagreements persist over military strategy.

“When we talk about the Gulf states, we talk about Saudi Arabia and General Keane’s comments, remember, we also are relying on Saudi Arabia with their overland pipelines to keep us in the game here,” Goldberg said. “The fact that they’re at maximum capacity moving through the Red Sea also allows us to continue the strangulation strategy.”

The debate comes as the United States and Iran continue negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia all have been involved in the diplomatic effort, while reports Wednesday indicated that mediators were working on an interim arrangement that could establish separate shipping routes through Iranian and Omani waters as broader nuclear negotiations continue.

The central question is whether those negotiations can produce an enforceable agreement or merely allow Tehran to preserve its leverage over the waterway.

Keane said he remained doubtful that Iran was prepared to surrender meaningful control.

“They are not going to give up the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “They think it’s a strategic asset.”

He predicted Iran would seek to retain some degree of control over the waterway and warned that reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program would be even more difficult.

“My gut feeling here is no,” Keane said when asked whether Iran was prepared to reach and implement a substantive agreement. “The president is not going to make a bad deal here.”

Jill Biden, the former first lady, expressed her skepticism on Wednesday about witnessing a female president during her lifetime, mentioning her strong belief that Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, was destined for the role.

In a discussion on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” Ripa queried Jill Biden on whether she imagined a female president emerging in their lifetimes.

“Considering my age, being 75, I doubt it would happen while I’m still around, Kelly. However, it might be possible in your lifetime,” she answered.

Biden conveyed her trust in Harris’s potential to become the first woman president.

“Back then, I truly believed Kamala would secure the presidency. Campaigning alongside her, I witnessed the fervor and enthusiasm,” Biden remarked. “The crowds were there, the energy was palpable at the convention, and I thought, ‘At last, we’re on the brink of having a woman president.’”

Patrice Onwuka, the vice president of economic policy at Independent Women, told Fox News Digital in a statement that the ex-first lady’s comments were a slap in the face.

“Jill Biden’s comments about never expecting to see a female president is a slap to the bench of female Democrats that have 2028 aspirations, like AOC and Gretchen Whitmer. The supposed party of women can’t even convince the former first lady of its prospects to elect a woman at the top of the ticket,” Onwuka said.

Onwuka told Fox News Digital Harris’ loss was about her being a status quo candidate.

“Kamala Harris blew a billion-dollar campaign chest and a coronation on the top of the presidential ticket to only lose. Perhaps it’s time to stop fixating on gender and take policy seriously. Democrats failed to make Americans’ lives better in 2024. They didn’t care about a first female president if she was just going to continue the status quo. This fate lays wait for any female candidate who cannot deliver economic mobility for regular Americans,” she added.

Ripa said during the conversation she was “less hopeful” than the former first lady.

“I’m hoping that at a certain point, that that turns around. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I don’t think social media helps,” Ripa added. “I will always keep moving forward. I just, you know, I just feel like there has to be something internally. There’s got to be a messenger eventually that breaks through (to) the people.”

Former first lady Michelle Obama has also said she didn’t believe the US was ready for a female president.

In November, Obama told a crowd America “ain’t ready” to elect a woman, pointing to Harris’ loss to President Donald Trump in 2024.

Harris pushed back on the notion in December 2025.

“I do believe the country is ready,” Harris told The New York Times at the time.

“Thousands of people are coming to hear my voice. Thousands and thousands,” Harris said in the interview, referring to her book tour. “Every place we’ve gone has been sold out.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also pushed back on Obama’s remarks but said the US still needed to change.

When asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper whether she agreed with the former first lady’s comments, Pelosi asked why a woman commander-in-chief would be out of the question.

“Well, I hope — I mean, I respect her and I know that view is one that we all are saddened by, but we — I think we have to change. The fact is that I‘ve heard every excuse in the book, you know, like, ‘I‘m not sure a woman could be commander-in-chief.’ Well, why not?” she asked. 

“‘Well, I served in the military.’ Well, OK. And so? So do women serve in the military.”

Miss North Carolina has vocally criticized the pageant officials for revoking her title following allegations of sharing racially insensitive posts online.

Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, recently celebrated her win last month and was preparing to represent her state at the national pageant on August 27. However, attention quickly turned to controversy when a social media account, thought to belong to her, shared posts that included racial slurs.

A Blaize Productions, responsible for the Miss USA pageants’ management in North Carolina, promptly rescinded her title, granting the crown to first runner-up Myla Hadley, citing ‘newly emerged details’ as their reasoning.

Boltinhouse, however, disputes this reasoning, insisting the decision was less about the alleged social media activity and more about her political ideology.

Speaking with Carolina Journal in a conversation with editor-in-chief Donna King, she expressed her belief that her removal stemmed from her ‘belief system as a conservative Christian woman.’

Boltinhouse explained that she was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon religion. 

She touted herself as a ‘proud conservative’ and ‘God-fearing’ woman, adding, ‘I also love this country. That’s something I want to make clear.’ Boltinhouse continued that she believed in ‘A nation under God.’

When asked about the alleged racist posts, Boltinhouse did not confirm whether they were from her, but said that ‘every teenager has made a mistake.’ 

‘Every person has made a mistake. But I’m not really here to talk about that. I’m here to talk about the woman I am today.’ 

She continued that despite what happened ‘decades ago,’ Boltinhouse believes she is a ‘hardworking woman’ who won her titles fair and square. 

The pageant queen cited her Miss Congeniality award, which is given to a contestant based on their character. 

‘I’m also the first married woman who had that title, and that’s something that I’m proud of,’ she continued. 

‘I won’t be judged for my past and I won’t be judged at all because I am the woman I am today.’ 

Boltinhouse reflected on her short-lived pageant career, having just started competing last year. 

She explained that her experience with Miss USA went from a ‘dream to a nightmare’ after the allegations surfaced. 

Despite the media firestorm, Boltinhouse said she was glad the controversy happened to her, boasting that she could handle the scrutiny and had made peace with her unwanted departure from pageantry. 

When discussing the pageant executives who stripped her of her title, Boltinhouse said, ‘I show a lot of grace and a lot of love to those people because I know they make mistakes too. 

‘I understand that they might not have the wisdom and knowledge that I do, but I forgive them,’ she boasted. 

Boltinhouse refused to elaborate on the events that transpired before her title was stripped, citing a confidentiality clause, but said that the narrative against her was untrue. 

Thom Brodeur, the chairman of Miss USA, addressed the matter in a lengthy Instagram message, explaining that the organization ‘does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.’

‘A title here isn’t a trinket. It is a position of trust, extended by an organization and accepted by a woman who agrees to carry a standard in public,’ he added.

‘When that standard is broken, the title cannot continue as though nothing happened.’

He said that the decision didn’t come down to a ‘single moment,’ but rather ‘conduct over an extended period of time.’

‘State titleholders are recruited, vetted and approved for competition at the state level. We acted as soon as this reached us.’

A family member of Boltinhouse’s previously told the Daily Mail that ‘it’s important to put her truth out and have the proper narrative out versus a narrative that is saving the face [of] an organization.’

‘As you can imagine, there’s a lot we would like to say but we are taking the time to be in prayer and unity and [will] respond in a manner [that] God calls us to.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to A Blaize Productions for comment on Boltinhouse’s interview.  

A tragic incident unfolded in Thailand on Friday when a student unleashed gunfire at a high school, leaving six people dead and several others wounded, according to police reports.

The assault occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located in Nonthaburi province, which is situated to the northwest of Bangkok. Royal Thai Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan confirmed the event in a statement to The Associated Press.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing moments as students sought refuge inside a classroom. They described hearing the chaotic sounds of gunfire coming from an adjacent building. The tension eased as police officers arrived, facilitating a safe evacuation from the premises.

Amidst the chaos, conflicting reports emerged regarding the exact number of casualties, adding to the atmosphere of confusion surrounding the attack.

Trairong told news broadcaster Channel 3 that the attacker was being hospitalized in serious condition, while 15 other individuals had been hurt, including two in critical condition — he reported that three teachers and three students had been killed.

Thailand Health Minister Pattana Promphat indicated that 22 individuals were hurt with nine in critical condition. Some were hurt due to causes like falls, and it was unclear how many were gunshot victims.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee indicated to reporters that five teachers passed away and that the perpetrator took the lives of his two grandparents at home prior to heading to the school. He reported that the attacker died at a hospital.

Trairong reported that the weapon was thought to have been taken from a member of the shooter’s family.

A former reality television contestant finds himself behind bars after an altercation with his elderly landlord. This clash over unpaid rent in Oklahoma tragically resulted in the landlord suffering from “severe, debilitating, and permanent” injuries.

Ethan Treadwell, known for his stint on “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 25 years—though 15 of those years are suspended. This penalty comes as a consequence of his January 2024 assault on 74-year-old William “Junior” Hicks, as reported by People.

The root of their confrontation was an eviction notice issued by Hicks in December 2023. Having leased land in Kiowa County, Oklahoma to Treadwell for seven years, Hicks sought legal recourse after Treadwell fell behind on rent payments.

According to Hicks, Treadwell had agreed to vacate the property and ceased paying rent, yet continued to graze his cattle on the land in southwest Oklahoma.

On January 30, 2024, Hicks recounted that while driving home, he noticed Treadwell moving livestock off the land. Hoping to resolve the issue, Hicks confronted Treadwell, insisting he halt the relocation until the overdue rent was settled.

But Hicks said Treadwell, “without provocation,” attacked him and beat him into an “unconscious state.”

Treadwell’s ex-wife, who was at the scene, told authorities that Treadwell knocked Hicks to the ground and repeatedly kicked him, according to KBTX.

Hicks suffered traumatic brain injuries and a broken nose and was placed on a ventilator for a period of time.

In his lawsuit, he described his injuries as “severe, debilitating and permanent,” People reported.

Treadwell originally faced aggravated assault and battery charges but entered a blind guilty plea to a reduced maiming charge.

The civil case was dismissed in 2025 while the criminal proceedings against Treadwell were pending, court records show.

Treadwell apologized to Hicks in court Tuesday, saying he wished the events had never happened, according to KBTX.

Hicks’ daughter told the court about her father’s injuries and recovery, while former Tillman County Undersheriff Gary Sanders spoke on Treadwell’s behalf and the judge received several character statements supporting him.

Treadwell appeared on the first season of “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” the reality competition hosted by country star Trace Adkins.

Contestants competed in cowboy skills, including cattle herding, lassoing and horsemanship for a chance to win a herd of cattle worth $50,000.

Treadwell made it to the final three in the first season before being eliminated after a “grueling” three-mile herding challenge.

He later returned for the show’s fourth season as an all-star.

One judge described Treadwell as “a little abrasive at times.”

Treadwell has a restitution hearing scheduled for October and has 10 days to appeal his sentence.

In his continuous effort to champion the cause of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Donald Trump remains adamant that it fell victim to vandalism. This stance persists despite conclusions from the US Attorney’s Office indicating that the supposed damage was actually the result of a renovation mishap.

Trump initially celebrated the ambitious $16 million endeavor aimed at revitalizing the algae-laden Reflecting Pool. However, his triumph was short-lived as the site started deteriorating, a decline he attributed to acts of vandalism.

David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete, faced arrest in June under allegations of defacing the pool. Yet, in a twist, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro recently dropped the charges, citing a federal investigation’s findings that the deterioration was more likely linked to the renovation.

Despite this, Trump continues to assert vandalism as the root cause. He shared images on Truth Social, taken by photographer Andrew Leyden, which purportedly depict graffiti and scarring along the pool’s side.

Trump emphatically stated, ‘The material was cut precisely where the video evidence showed—a stretch extending 300 feet or more. Observers were seen kneeling with their hands in the water exactly at the site where the “slashes” appeared,’ reflecting his unwavering stance.

‘Additionally, there were witnesses to the VANDALISM, and the flexible areas of the material were cut with a knife. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should re-visit her hastily made decision.’

Pirro has been a longtime ally of Trump’s and has been in lockstep with the president since he appointed her as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia. 

However, the Reflecting Pool case has divided the two, and Trump has publicly said he believes Pirro ‘choked’ and ‘folded like an umbrella’ by dismissing the charges against Hearn. 

When asked by reporters on Tuesday night if Pirro’s job was safe, he replied: ‘I haven’t made a determination. I told her I was not happy.’

‘I just think she was totally wrong. They did a beautiful job, there were a couple of little things but that was not a big deal and everybody saw the vandalism, all you have to do is look at the tape,’ he said.

‘Plus, we have a witness or two witnesses that saw the vandalism, so certainly there was vandalism. In my opinion, it was major vandalism.’

A day earlier, Trump echoed a similar sentiment, telling reporters in the Oval Office, ‘I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro.’ 

‘Frankly, I think she choked,’ Trump said, adding: ‘I don’t know what the hell happened.’

Trump also slammed Hearn and his attorney, Norm Eisen, in his recent Truth Social post, saying that the two have liberal affiliations and a political vendetta against him. 

The president claimed that Eisen was a ‘Trump deranged sleazebag’ and a ‘political hack lawyer,’ adding that he believed the attorney used charity for partisan goals. 

‘I have been beating Eisen, a complete LUNATIC, in Court for 10 years, or more. He just keeps coming, but I always WIN!’ Trump concluded.

Eisen previously served in former President Barack Obama’s administration and was an ambassador to the Czech Republic. He has been critical of Trump and is a cofounder of Democracy Defenders Action.

Eisen and Hearn have maintained that the charges against the former Olympian were politically motivated by the Trump administration.

‘A case gets brought because someone powerful wanted it brought, & it falls apart the moment a court looks at it. Davey Hearn walked away, but the machinery that came for him is still running,’ Eisen wrote on X. 

Hearn told CNN that the case against him was ‘surreal and absurd,’ warning others that he believes anyone can be targeted by the federal government. 

The former Olympian pleaded not guilty last month to one felony count of property destruction and had a trial scheduled to start September 28  before the case was dismissed. He was facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted. 

A federal investigation later revealed that evidence uncovered ‘undermines the evidentiary basis for the indictment,’ the dismissal of Hearn’s indictment read. 

The filing revealed that new documents indicated that the damage to the pool ‘was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented’ by the Interior Department.

‘Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,’ the filing stated.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Eisen and Pirro’s office for comment.