President Donald Trump on Tuesday reaffirmed his confidence in Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the U.S.-Iran dialogue, dismissing suggestions that Washington should reconsider Islamabad’s involvement following a controversial media report alleging Pakistan sheltered Iranian military aircraft.
Speaking to reporters before departing for China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump strongly praised Pakistan’s leadership amid renewed scrutiny over its role in facilitating negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Asked whether he had second thoughts about Pakistan serving as a mediator, Trump replied: “No, they’re great.”
“I think the Pakistanis have been great. The field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been absolutely great,” he added.
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump DOUBLES DOWN on supporting Pakistan as mediators in the Iran war, and says a good deal can be made
“I believe that one way or the other it’s going to be very good for the American people, and I think actually very good for the Iranians.”… pic.twitter.com/kEqiElcYxA
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2026
The remarks came after a CBS News report, citing unnamed U.S. officials, alleged that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to remain at Nur Khan Air Base near Islamabad while mediation efforts were underway last month.
The issue also surfaced during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, where Lindsey Graham questioned Pakistan’s neutrality following the CBS report.
“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,” Graham said.
Pakistan rejects report alleging it shielded Iranian aircraft, defends mediation role https://t.co/VPXmSSDFlu via @ViewsNewsNow
— Views&News (@ViewsNewsMag) May 12, 2026
Pakistan has firmly rejected the allegations, describing the report as inaccurate and politically motivated. Islamabad said the aircraft in question were linked to logistical arrangements connected to the diplomatic process following the initial round of talks, which concluded inconclusively on April 11.
“Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase as misleading and sensationalized,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement.
“Such speculative narratives appear aimed at undermining ongoing efforts for regional stability and peace.”
The Foreign Office said that following the ceasefire and during the opening phase of the Islamabad Talks, aircraft from both Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to transport diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff associated with the negotiations.
It added that the Iranian aircraft currently present in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and had “no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement.”
“Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context,” the statement added.
Ali Imran is a Washington-based journalist, who has worked for leading world news organizations as correspondent, expert and in editorial positions. He is a published author and poet.
