Critics Demand Pakistan ‘Revokes’ Decision to Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize After U.S. Strikes on Iran

Just a day before the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, Pakistan had stated its intention to “formally recommend” U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. The country expressed its desire to recognize Trump’s role in helping India and Pakistan reach a cease-fire after conflict between the two long-time rivals resurged earlier this year.

Previous Nobel Prize recipients include former TIME100 Women of the Year honoree Malala Yousafzai, and previous TIME Person of the Year recipients Martin Luther King Jr., and former President Barack Obama.

“At a moment of heightened regional turbulence, President Trump demonstrated great strategic foresight and stellar statesmanship through robust diplomatic engagement with both Islamabad and New Delhi, which de-escalated a rapidly deteriorating situation, ultimately securing a cease-fire and averting a broader conflict between the two nuclear states that would have had catastrophic consequences for millions of people in the region and beyond,” the Government of Pakistan said in its announcement via social media. “This intervention stands as a testament to his role as a genuine peacemaker and his commitment to conflict resolution through dialogue.”

The Pakistani government went on to say that Trump’s “leadership during the 2025 Pakistan-India crisis manifestly showcases the continuation of his legacy of pragmatic diplomacy and effective peace-building.”

Read More: India and Pakistan Cease-Fire Appears to Hold Despite Accusations of Violations

When Trump announced the cease-fire between India and Pakistan on May 10, he said the agreement had been reached after “a long night of talks mediated by the United States.” He later went on to thank Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their efforts.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media to express gratitude to Trump at the time, saying: "We thank President Trump for his leadership and proactive role for peace in the region. Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability.”

By contrast, the Indian government did not mention U.S. involvement in the mediation talks. "India and Pakistan was worked out directly between the two countries," a statement read.

Pakistan’s announcement of its intentions regarding a nomination came as Trump posted on Truth Social about the Nobel Peace Prize when commenting on his international mediating.

Within that social media post, Trump took credit for “stopping the war” between India and Pakistan.

“I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between India and Pakistan. I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the war between Serbia and Kosovo. I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for keeping peace between Egypt and Ethiopia," Trump claimed.

Read More: A New Middle East Is Unfolding Before Our Eyes

Pakistan’s Nobel Peace Prize recommendation occurred just one day before Trump authorized the U.S. to strike three nuclear weapons bases in Iran, joining the Israeli conflict.

"Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!," Trump said late on Saturday night, as he announced the military action.

The Government of Pakistan, which shares a 560-mile border with Iran, spoke out on Sunday in condemnation of the strikes, calling them a serious violation of international law and the IAEA Statute.”

Pakistan reified its support of “Iran’s right to self-defence,” but also urged that diplomacy is the only path forward. Still, Pakistan’s alliance with Iran throws into doubt the country’s intention to nominate Trump for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

The Pakistani government has yet to publicly comment or retract its post announcing the nomination. But prominent figures have spoken out. 

Upon learning of the U.S. strikes, Maleeha Lodhi, the former Pakistan ambassador to the United States, said the Pakistani government “should be ashamed of this ill-conceived move. It should now have the decency to revoke that decision.”

Allama Raja Nasir, a member of the Pakistani Senate, had originally called the nomination a “deeply misguided and ethically hollow decision.” He doubled down on his stance after the strikes.

“To now authorize such a devastating attack on a neighboring country while simultaneously praising his actions as efforts toward ‘peace’ exposes a stark and troubling contradiction,” Nasir said of Trump.