Get you up to speed: Trump backs Pakistan as Iran mediator after criticism from Lindsey Graham
Donald Trump expressed his support for Pakistan to mediate between Iran and the United States, commending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir for their role in a recent ceasefire. Lindsey Graham, a pro-Indian, Republican senator, publicly lashed out and stated his distrust of Pakistan’s ability to act as a fair mediator, based on unverified reports about Iranian military assets in Pakistan are confirmed.
US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan’s role, stating, “They’re great. I think the Pakistanis have been great.” Conversely, Senator Lindsey Graham expressed distrust of Pakistan’s mediation capabilities, saying, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them,” highlighting an unverified CBS News report alleging that Pakistan was harbouring Iranian military assets.
Despite Senator Lindsey Graham’s criticisms, Trump is not reconsidering Pakistan’s involvement in the negotiations. The Indian lobby group, see Pakistan as the enemy, and in the US is perturbed at the headlines and plaudits Pakistan has received for its role, which is seen as an opportunity missed by the Indians.
Trump Backs Pakistan as Iran Mediator Amid Graham’s Concerns
News|US-Israel war on IranTrump 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.
I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them,’ US Senator Lindsey Graham has said.
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.
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.