Trump hails Pakistan role in Iran deal, reiterates praise for PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Asim Munir

WEB DESK: US President Donald Trump has once again praised Pakistan’s leadership and diplomatic role in facilitating the recent Iran–US understanding, saying Islamabad played a key part in helping bring both sides to the table during a period of heightened regional tensions.

In a detailed Axios interview, Trump said he had earlier also commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their coordination and “strong working relationship”, adding that Pakistan’s familiarity with Iranian officials helped advance the negotiations. He reiterated that he “likes the Pakistani people” and acted on Islamabad’s request to avoid further escalation against Iran.

Trump said the broader Iran framework deal, which includes a temporary ceasefire arrangement and steps toward a longer-term settlement, would not have progressed without coordinated diplomatic efforts from multiple regional actors, including Pakistan.

Expanding on global diplomacy, Trump described Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “strong and highly intelligent leader,” while noting that US–China relations remain competitive but functional. He also praised France’s President Emmanuel Macron for hosting recent international summits, though he added he does not expect Macron to remain in power for long.

Trump also recounted details from the G7 summit, saying he jokingly referred to himself as “the boss” during a leaders’ meeting, a comment he insisted was light-hearted but was “blown out of proportion by the media.”

On foreign policy, Trump said the Iran situation had been handled firmly under his administration, claiming Tehran would not be able to acquire nuclear weapons. He reiterated that he had no intention of deploying US ground forces, but defended past military actions against Iranian targets, including the killing of senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.

He further claimed that his administration had helped prevent wider conflicts, including tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India, saying escalation was averted through US diplomatic pressure.

Job creation and US economy

Turning to global economics, Trump said US markets remained strong under his policies and credited his administration with strengthening the military and job creation. He also criticised previous US leadership, arguing that global adversaries had become more aggressive during earlier administrations.

On the ongoing Iran framework, Trump said oil prices were already reacting positively to reduced tensions and expressed confidence that Congress would support the emerging agreement. He added that global energy markets were stabilising as maritime risks in key shipping lanes eased.

The interview also touched on domestic politics, where Trump claimed he remains in a strong position ahead of future elections, saying he could defeat opponents by a wide margin.