Sen. Lindsey Graham, RSC, questions Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense hearing on the budget request for the Department of Defense in Washington. (AP Photo)Casting shadow over the ongoing mediation between US and Iran, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Tuesday called for rejecting Pakistan as the mediator for talks in West Asia and declared that he doesn’t “trust” Islamabad, suggesting that Washington should look for an alternative mediator in order to have truce with Iran.During a hearing of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the Iran war and the defence budget, Graham expressed his anguish over the deadlock in peace talks between Washington and Tehran.BREAKING: Sen. Lindsey Graham unloads on Pakistan after reports claim the Middle East mediator allowed Iran to use their bases to park military aircraft.“I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to… pic.twitter.com/ULF5CPQSXM— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 12, 2026The Republican senator’s remarks come from an earlier CBS News report which cited US officials and stated that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfields such as Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan amid the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.Also Read | Pentagon under fire as Iran war triggers spending debate: How much has Washington spent?Responding to CBS News report, Graham said, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate. No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere.”If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties.Given some of the prior statements by Pakistani defense officials towards Israel, I would not be shocked if… https://t.co/OqJ1cdVLFX— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 11, 2026Graham had asked US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, during the Senate hearing, whether or not Iranian aircraft allegedly allowed in Pakistan is “consistent with [Islamabad] being a fair mediator.” Hegseth responded saying he didn’t want to get in the middle of negotiations.The CBS News report claimed that Iran sent several aircrafts, including a surveillance variant of the Lockheed C-130, to Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi.However, a Pakistani official denied the viral claims and told CBS News, “Nur Khan base is right in the heart of the city, a large fleet of aircraft parked there can’t be hidden from public eye.”Reacting to the report, Senator Graham had earlier said Washington may have to “reevaluate” Pakistan’s role as mediator between US, Iran and other parties.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:PakistanUS Iran tensions