Lindsey Graham, senior Republican senator and ally of Trump, in response to reports about the transfer and deployment of some Iranian military aircraft in Pakistan and Afghanistan, said that he does “not trust” Islamabad as a mediator in U.S.-Iran negotiations.
He stated that if these reports are accurate, the United States should seek another mediator for ceasefire talks with Iran.
Graham, on Tuesday, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with the Defense Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: “If Iranian aircraft are indeed being kept at bases in Pakistan to protect Iranian military equipment, we need to look for another mediator.” He added: “Now it’s clear why Pakistan has taken this approach.”
On Monday, following the release of the report by CBS News, Graham also said that if the report is correct, the U.S. should reconsider Pakistan’s role as a mediator.
He wrote on the social media platform X: “Given some previous statements by Pakistani defense officials against Israel, if this report is accurate, I am not surprised.”
However, U.S. President Donald Trump, in response to a reporter’s question about reconsidering Pakistan’s role, praised Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Armed Forces Chief Asim Munir, saying that Pakistan’s work is excellent and there will be no reconsideration regarding their mediation.
Writer:Salima Hakimi
