On Tuesday, President Donald Trump dismissed the notion of reconsidering Pakistan’s involvement as a mediator in the Iran conflict, despite skepticism expressed by one of his staunch Republican supporters. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of Trump, had voiced concerns over a report that suggested Pakistan was providing sanctuary for Iranian military aircraft, shielding them from potential U.S. air strikes.
According to the report, Pakistan allegedly allowed Iranian planes to operate from its airfields. In response, Islamabad clarified that both U.S. and Iranian aircraft were stationed in Pakistan as part of logistical support in the lead-up to ceasefire discussions. Some planes remained for possible future negotiations, though Pakistan asserted this was not part of any “preservation arrangement.”
Graham, speaking at a Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee meeting, expressed his distrust, saying, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.” He suggested that if Pakistan indeed harbored Iranian aircraft, the U.S. should consider another mediator for the Iran issue. However, Trump later brushed off these concerns, reaffirming his confidence in Pakistan’s role, stating, “No, they’re great. I think the Pakistanis have been great. The Field Marshal [Asim Munir] and the Prime Minister of Pakistan [Shehbaz Sharif] have been absolutely great.”
The Pakistani embassy in Washington deferred questions to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reiterated that the Iranian aircraft at Pakistani bases arrived during the ceasefire and were not connected to any military operations or preservation efforts. The ministry labeled claims to the contrary as speculative and misleading.
The situation gained attention after reports surfaced that Iran had deployed several aircraft to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Force Base near Rawalpindi shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire on April 7. This development had raised questions about Pakistan’s role, but Trump’s statements indicated continued trust in Pakistan’s mediation efforts.