Graham says he doesn’t trust Pakistan, blasts its role in Iran mediation talks

WASHINGTON, DC: Fresh scrutiny has emerged around Pakistan’s role in backchannel diplomacy between Washington and Tehran after new reporting suggested Iranian aircraft may have temporarily operated from Pakistani air facilities during the current ceasefire period.

The development prompted sharp comments from Lindsey Graham, on Tuesday, May 12, who publicly questioned whether Islamabad can still be viewed as a neutral broker in talks tied to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Graham challenges Pakistan’s credibility

The South Carolina Republican raised the issue during a Senate hearing while questioning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Referencing reports that Iranian aircraft had been present at Pakistani military facilities, Graham pressed Hegseth on whether such activity aligned with Pakistan’s role as a mediator between the US and Iran.

Hegseth declined to weigh in directly, telling lawmakers he did not want to interfere in an active diplomatic process.

Graham clearly disagreed. “I want to get in the middle of these negotiations,” he said during the exchange.

He then added, “I don’t trust Pakistan, as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistani bases to protect Iranian military assets, maybe we ought to find somebody else to mediate.”

Graham capped off the exchange with another blunt remark “No wonder this thing is going nowhere.”

CBS report exposes 'mediator' Pakistan

The comments followed a report from CBS News claiming US officials were examining intelligence suggesting Iranian military aircraft had used facilities including Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Base during the current diplomatic phase.

The report suggested the aircraft’s presence may have complicated military calculations in the region, particularly amid continued American pressure on Iranian assets.

That reporting quickly triggered political reaction in Washington, especially among lawmakers already skeptical of Pakistan’s balancing act in the region.

Pakistan has since acknowledged that aircraft linked to both Iran and the United States entered the country during the ceasefire period but strongly rejected claims that its territory was being used to shield Iranian military assets.

In an official statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the aircraft arrived as part of logistical arrangements connected to diplomatic engagements in Islamabad.

According to the ministry, the planes were used to transport negotiators, security teams, and administrative personnel connected to peace discussions.

Pakistani officials insisted the aircraft had “no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency” and described the country’s role as an “impartial and constructive facilitator” focused on de-escalation.

Online reactions to Lindsey Graham’s remarks are reviving past debates about Pakistan’s violent landscape, including the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.