Trump return to combat operations in Iran ‘inevitable’: Keane

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Jack Keane on Monday said it was “inevitable” that President Trump could resume combat operations against Iran as the conflict inches closer to the seven-month mark.

Fox Business host Larry Kudlow asked Keane if Trump could resume fresh strikes on Tehran and whether the president should “deliver a stern warning” to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

“Oh, I think combat operations are inevitable,” Keane answered. “And the reason is the mindset of the regime itself. They are determined here. They believe they can outlast us.”

“They believe their will is there, and that we have weakened as a result of what has taken place with oil spiking and the elections coming,” he continued.

The ex-general added that these were “real things” to not just the American people but also to Israeli voters heading to the polls in October. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who coordinated with U.S. officials in launching initial strikes on Iran in February, is running for reelection.

Keane added that the Iranian regime’s determination to stay in power and support its proxies , including the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, will only fade “if we take away the centerpiece,” referring to Iran.

“I think combat operations, Larry, are inevitable,” he reiterated. “It’s a combination of the [U.S. Navy] blockade, the economic pressure [Treasury Secretary Scott] Bessent’s putting on and –– yes –– significant combat operations conducted by Israel and the United States to finish this, to set the regime in a place with the right conditions for its collapse.”

Trump told world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that he has a “big decision” coming on the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran. He pondered if “the greatest in the Middle East or even the world” will be made with Iran or “do I annihilate the Islamic Republic.”

“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” he said, later suggesting that a deal could be reached after the November midterm elections.

The Trump administration authorized visas for Iran’s delegation to the UNGA last week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump was “open” to meeting with Pezeshkian and the rest of the delegation.

Military strikes between the U.S. and Iran resumed earlier this month after about six weeks of quiet. Iran targeted oil ships in the Strait of Hormuz , American bases in the region and U.S. allies. The Pentagon has fought back against the Islamic Republic’s control of the strait with a blockade on Iranian oil exports and struck military targets.

The effective shutdown of the waterway hit people globally with rising gas prices, a growing concern among voters worried about the cost of living and affordability ahead of November’s midterms. The national average for gas in the U.S. sat at $4.48 on Tuesday, while diesel was at $6.53, according to AAA .