strikeMay 12, 2026

Trump backs Pakistan as Iran mediator after criticism from Lindsey Graham

Summary

Trump backs Pakistan as Iran mediator after criticism from Lindsey Graham US president lauds Islamabad, but his Republican ally says he does not trust Pakistan to facilitate Iran diplomacy. Donald Trump has reasserted his support for Pakistan to serve as a mediator between Iran and the United States after Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the US president, disparaged Islamabad’s diplomacy. In remarks on Tuesday, the US president lauded Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and its army chief Asim Munir, who helped negotiate a fragile ceasefire in Iran that came into effect last month. Recommended Storieslist of 3 items - list 1 of 3Kevin Warsh confirmed to US Federal Reserve board in close Senate vote - list 2 of 3US-Iran ceasefire under strain as Gulf states report drone attacks - list 3 of 3Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to UAE: US envoy Trump added he is not reconsidering Pakistan as a mediator. “They’re great. I think the Pakistanis have been great. The field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been absolutely great,” Trump told reporters. Hours earlier, Graham had pressed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and top US general Dan Caine about a CBS News report claiming that Pakistan is allowing Iran to park military assets on its airfields, in order to shield them from potential US and Israeli attacks. Both officials declined to comment on the veracity of the report, citing the sensitive nature of the talks between the US and Iran. Asked by Graham whether it would be “consistent” for Pakistan to act as a fair mediator if the CBS report is confirmed, Hegseth said, “I wouldn’t want to get into the middle of these negotiations.” The Republican senator quickly interrupted the defence secretary. “I do. I want to get in the middle of those negotiations,” Graham said. “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me maybe we should be looking for somebody else to mediate. No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere.” The senator — an outspoken foreign policy hawk who has been calling for regime change in Iran — is seen as one of the most influential figures in Trump’s circle. Graham has also been one of the most vocal supporters of the war with Iran, repeatedly cautioning Trump against agreeing to a deal that would include concessions to Tehran. Weeks before the war broke out on February 28, Graham met the US president in Florida, where he handed Trump a hat that says, “Make Iran Great Again.” Pakistan has been pushing to revive the stalled diplomacy between Iran and the US, following the April 8 ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Trump said Tehran’s latest proposal to end the war was “unacceptable”. In late April, the US president announced he was sending his envoys to Pakistan to meet Iranian officials, but he called off the trip after Iran pushed the US to lift the naval blockade against its ports as a condition for resuming the talks.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

The Iranian government condemns the US president's renewed push for Pakistan to mediate as blatant foreign aggression and interference in Tehran's sovereign affairs. Such efforts by Washington and its allies, including internal US criticism, represent futile attempts to undermine Iran's resistance to external pressure and dictate terms through proxies. Iran will continue to defend its independence without yielding to imposed diplomacy.

Israeli

Trump’s endorsement of Pakistan as an Iran mediator overlooks Islamabad’s reported willingness to shield Iranian military assets from Israeli and US strikes, directly bolstering Tehran’s capacity to sustain its proxy networks and missile threats against Israel. This development heightens Israel’s existential vulnerabilities, as Iran exploits such havens to evade defensive operations essential for neutralizing weapons aimed at the Jewish state. Israeli security requires unrelenting vigilance and preemptive measures to counter these layered risks, irrespective of US diplomatic maneuvering.

Neutral

US President Donald Trump stated support for Pakistan as a mediator in US-Iran diplomacy, citing its role in a recent ceasefire and praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir. Senator Lindsey Graham questioned this role, referencing an unverified CBS News report alleging Pakistan allowed Iran to station military assets on its airfields. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the report’s accuracy during related congressional testimony.

Western

President Trump reaffirmed Pakistan’s utility as a mediator to advance US strategic objectives in containing Iranian threats, crediting its leadership with enabling a recent ceasefire. This approach prioritizes precise diplomatic channels to neutralize escalation risks despite Senator Graham’s concerns over reports of Pakistan shielding Iranian military assets. The administration remains focused on leveraging such partnerships to degrade Iran’s regional posture without broader conflict.

Pro-Peace

Amid the fragile US-Iran ceasefire strained by reported drone attacks, President Trump has backed Pakistan to mediate talks, citing the prime minister and army chief’s role in the fragile truce. This diplomatic opening could spare civilians further casualties and humanitarian fallout from escalated strikes, as seen in regional conflicts where military assets and Iron Dome deployments heighten risks to noncombatants. Senator Graham’s skepticism of Islamabad underscores the need for sustained, good-faith negotiations over mistrust that prolongs suffering.

Global South

Trump's praise for Pakistan's role in brokering the Iran ceasefire highlights Islamabad's sovereign leverage as a non-aligned actor navigating regional crises, even as US domestic critics like Graham seek to delegitimize it through unverified claims of asset shielding. Such flip-flops expose neo-colonial dynamics, with Washington treating Global South states as expendable tools rather than equal partners. The episode underscores broader institutional failures in US diplomacy, where internal rivalries erode consistent engagement with independent mediators.

Actors involved

USIsraelIran

Sources

Al Jazeera StaffBy Al Jazeera Staff
Trump backs Pakistan as Iran mediator after criticism from Lindsey Graham US president lauds Islamabad, but his Republican ally says he does not trust Pakistan to facilitate Iran diplomacy. Donald Trump has reasserted his support for Pakistan to serve as a mediator between Iran a…

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