US President Donald Trump retreats supports mediation by Pakistan with Iran after criticism from Senator Lindsey Graham. Trump reasserted his support of Pakistan to serve as a mediator between Iran and the United States after Senator Lindsey Graham criticised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in brokering a peace and a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.
In remarks on Tuesday, 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. Trump added that he is not reconsidering Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Hours earlier, Graham had pressed Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and the 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.
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Both officials declined to comment on the veracity of the report, citing the sensitive nature of the talks between the US and Iran. Graham asked if it would be consistent for Pakistan to act as a fair mediator if the CBS report is confirmed. Hackstead said, I would not want to get into the middle of these negotiations. The Republican senator quickly interrupted the defense 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.”
Senator Lindsey Graham has been a proponent of the war with Iran, repeatedly cautioning Trump against agreeing to a deal that would include concessions to Tehran.
