United States President Donald Trump affirmed on Tuesday that he is not reconsidering Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the ongoing Iran conflict, despite skepticism from one of his Republican allies. Senator Lindsey Graham, a trusted confidant of President Trump, had voiced his concerns, citing reports that Pakistan was allowing Iranian military aircraft to be stationed on its airfields to shield them from potential US air strikes.
According to Pakistan, both US and Iranian aircraft were stationed in Islamabad to support logistics ahead of ceasefire discussions. Some of these aircraft have remained for potential further negotiations, but Pakistan asserts they are not part of any “preservation arrangement.” Senator Graham expressed his distrust of Pakistan during a Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee meeting, stating, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.” He suggested that if Iran indeed has military planes in Pakistan for protection, the US should consider another mediator.
Despite these concerns, President Trump dismissed the notion of reevaluating Pakistan’s mediation role. He told reporters, “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.” This statement underscores his confidence in Pakistan’s involvement in the mediation process.
In response to inquiries, Pakistan’s embassy in Washington referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which clarified that the Iranian aircraft currently stationed in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and are not linked to any military contingency or preservation arrangement. The ministry’s statement emphasized that any claims suggesting otherwise are speculative and misleading.
Reports emerged, citing anonymous US officials, that Iran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Force Base near Rawalpindi shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire on April 7. However, Pakistani officials maintain that these aircraft are part of ongoing logistics efforts and have no military preservation implications.
