What is the story about?
US Sentator Lindsey Graham has raised questions about Pakistan's mediation role in the Iran war after a media report suggested that Iranian aircraft are parked in the country's bases.
Speaking at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, the Republican Senator said, "I don't trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked at Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking for somebody else to mediate. No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere."
A CBS report has said that Iran has parked its military aircraft in the country’s bases in order to shield them from US attacks. According to the report, Iran sent multiple aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan hours after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in April.
During the hearing, Graham asked US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine whether the report is accurate. Hegseth answered by saying that he "would not want to get in the middle of the ongoing negotiations."
Meanwhile, Pakistan has denied the report, saying the Iranian aircraft currently stationed in the country were flown in after the ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the US began. The aircraft, according to the statement, were used to facilitate the movement of Iranian delegations.
“Following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, a number of aircraft from Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff associated with the talks process. Some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement,” Pakistan said in its statement.
Speaking at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, the Republican Senator said, "I don't trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked at Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking for somebody else to mediate. No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere."
a frustrated Lindsey Graham to Hegseth and Caine: "No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere!" pic.twitter.com/LEdIGxuiRZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 12, 2026
A CBS report has said that Iran has parked its military aircraft in the country’s bases in order to shield them from US attacks. According to the report, Iran sent multiple aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan hours after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in April.
During the hearing, Graham asked US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine whether the report is accurate. Hegseth answered by saying that he "would not want to get in the middle of the ongoing negotiations."
Meanwhile, Pakistan has denied the report, saying the Iranian aircraft currently stationed in the country were flown in after the ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the US began. The aircraft, according to the statement, were used to facilitate the movement of Iranian delegations.
“Following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, a number of aircraft from Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff associated with the talks process. Some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement,” Pakistan said in its statement.
