Iran-US-Pakistan
‘More than problematic’: US Senator Lindsey Graham questions Pakistan's role as mediator in Iran-US peace talks
US Senator and close Donald Trump ally Lindsey Graham has questioned Pakistan’s role as a potential mediator in efforts to broker peace between Iran and the United States, describing the South Asian nation as “more than problematic”.
Writing on X, Graham said: “It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic. Their animosity towards Israel is longstanding.”
He further claimed: “It is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft are being housed on Pakistani air bases and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel is disturbing.”
His remarks came after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejected President Trump’s reported proposal for Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords.
Speaking to Samaa TV, Asif said Pakistan would not normalise ties with Israel, arguing that joining such an arrangement would go against the country’s core principles. He added that Pakistan’s position on the issue remained unchanged.
Reacting to Asif’s comments, Graham wrote on X: “As to the defense minister’s comments about the Abraham Accords, saying that Pakistan would never join because they don’t trust Israel: The clip may be a year old, but I fear the sentiment is fresh.”
“In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump’s call to join the Abraham Accords,” he added.
The remarks come days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested progress was being made toward a possible Iran nuclear agreement.
However, President Trump has now introduced a fresh condition that could significantly raise the stakes in negotiations. According to reports, Trump wants countries in the Middle East — including Iran — to join the Abraham Accords as part of any final agreement with Washington.
The proposed conditions reportedly also include keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment, and no compensation for losses suffered by Tehran during the recent conflict.
What Are the Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords were brokered by the United States in 2020 during Trump’s first term in office. The agreements led several Muslim-majority nations to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.
The first signatories were the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed later by Morocco and Sudan.
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