Senator Lindsey Graham Demands Trump Halt Iran Talks After Pakistan Aircraft Report

Senator Graham’s Explosive Outburst Over Iran Negotiations

Senator Lindsey Graham delivered a fiery rebuke on Tuesday regarding Donald Trump’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, specifically targeting Pakistan’s alleged role in the process. During a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing addressing the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion budget request, Graham expressed frustration over a CBS News report from the previous day. The report claimed Pakistan had quietly permitted Iranian aircraft to park at its military bases, potentially to shield them from U.S. airstrikes.

Graham pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on whether they believed Pakistan’s actions aligned with its stated role as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran. Both military leaders declined to comment, with Hegseth stating,

“I don’t want to get in the middle of these negotiations—”

Graham responded with visible frustration, exclaiming:

“Well, I do! I want to get in the middle of these negotiations! I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw ‘em! 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’s remarks were captured and shared by journalist Aaron Rupar on X (formerly Twitter) on May 12, 2026.

Graham’s Concerns Tied to Israel’s Security

On Monday, Graham had already signaled his skepticism toward Pakistan’s mediation efforts, citing his strong support for Israel. In a post on X, he wrote:

“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 this were true.”

While Graham did not specify which statements he was referencing, Pakistani officials have repeatedly condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Pakistan Denies CBS News Report

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly rejected the CBS News report, calling it “misleading and sensationalized.” In an official statement, the ministry clarified:

“The Iranian aircraft currently parked in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and bear no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement. Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context.”

Despite the denial, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, the leader of Pakistan’s military, remain key negotiators in the ongoing, fragile ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Iran. However, the negotiations face significant hurdles, as Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the latest terms offered by Iran were “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”