Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed support for Pakistan as a mediator between Iran and the United States, saying he was not reconsidering Islamabad’s role after fresh criticism from Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir, calling them “absolutely great.” [1, 2]
Graham publicly questioned Pakistan’s credibility as a go-between in the talks and said he did not trust Pakistan. He pointed to reports, cited by CBS News, that Iranian military aircraft had been allowed to use Pakistani airbases, including Nur Khan Air Base, to shield Iranian assets from possible U.S. or Israeli strikes. [1, 3, 2]
Pakistan rejected the allegations. Its foreign ministry said the claims were “misleading and sensationalized” and denied that its airfields were used for military coordination or to protect Iranian assets. It said the aircraft presence was tied to diplomatic and logistical arrangements connected to the talks process. [3]
The ministry also said some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of later rounds of engagement. Pakistan described its role in the negotiations as an “impartial, constructive, and responsible facilitator.” [3, 2]
The dispute comes after Pakistan hosted senior delegations in Islamabad on April 11–12, 2026, following a temporary two-week ceasefire it had helped secure. Fox News said on Monday that reports had also alleged Tehran may have sent a civilian aircraft to Afghanistan during the conflict. [2]
Trump’s comments came as the ceasefire that took effect last month continued to hold. The latest public clash between Washington allies and critics centered on whether Pakistan was serving as a neutral channel or giving cover to Iranian military activity. [1, 3, 2]
