While the US president has praised Islamabad, Republican allies have said they do not trust Pakistan to facilitate diplomacy with Iran.
Published May 12, 2026
President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pakistan as a mediator between Iran and the United States after the US president’s close ally, Senator Lindsey Graham, disparaged Islamabad’s diplomacy.
In his remarks Tuesday, the U.S. president praised Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir for supporting Iran’s fragile cease-fire negotiations that took effect last month.
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President Trump added that he would not reconsider Pakistan as an intermediary.
“They were great. I thought the Pakistanis were great. The marshals and prime minister of Pakistan were really great,” Trump told reporters.
Hours earlier, Mr. Graham had pressed Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth and top U.S. general Dan Cain over a CBS News report that Pakistan was allowing military assets to be stationed at Iranian airfields to protect Iran from potential attacks by the United States and Israel.
Both officials declined to comment on the veracity of the report, citing the sensitive nature of talks between the United States and Iran.
Asked by Graham if it would be “consistent” for Pakistan to act as an impartial mediator if the CBS report is confirmed, Hegseth said: “I don’t want to get in the middle of these negotiations.”
Republican senators quickly interrupted the defense secretary.
“I think so. I want to be in the thick of the negotiations,” Graham said.
“I don’t trust Pakistan. If Pakistan is actually parking Iranian aircraft at bases in Pakistan to protect Iranian military assets, then maybe they should look for someone to mediate. No wonder this damn thing isn’t going anywhere.”
The senator is an outspoken foreign policy hawk who has called for regime change in Iran and is seen as one of the most influential people in Trump’s circle.
Graham has also been one of the most vocal supporters of war with Iran, repeatedly warning Trump against agreeing to a deal that includes concessions to Iran.
Weeks before war broke out on February 28, Mr. Graham met with the US president in Florida, where he handed Mr. Trump a hat that read “Make Iran Great Again.”
Pakistan is pushing to revive stalled diplomacy between Iran and the United States following the April 8 ceasefire agreement.
On Sunday, President Trump said Tehran’s latest offer to end the war was “unacceptable.”
In late April, the US president announced that he would send a special envoy to Pakistan to meet with Iranian officials, but the visit was called off after Iran asked the US to lift the naval blockade on its ports as a condition for restarting talks.
