Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has stressed that the world has no “Plan B” if ongoing US-Iran negotiations fail to bring a peaceful outcome, urging all sides to prioritise diplomacy over renewed conflict.
Speaking in an interview with Sky News ahead of the Islamabad-hosted talks, Bilawal said the international community must focus on achieving a long-term and sustainable peace in the Middle East. He warned that a return to large-scale conflict would have severe global consequences.
He said the current ceasefire window must be used effectively to build trust between the two sides. According to him, without meaningful progress, the risk of escalation remains high.
Bilawal highlighted that the world has already experienced the human and economic costs of prolonged wars. He said countries across regions, including Pakistan, have been directly affected by instability and rising economic pressure linked to conflict.
He added that the responsibility now lies with both Washington and Tehran to reduce tensions. He noted that trust deficits between the two sides remain a major challenge, but confidence-building steps could help create space for dialogue.
Pakistan, he said, is playing a facilitating role by hosting the negotiations in Islamabad. He described this as an important diplomatic step and said reaching the negotiation stage itself was a significant achievement.
Bilawal also rejected suggestions that diplomatic efforts were focused on image-building. He said regional realities demand urgent peace efforts, especially given Pakistan’s geographic proximity to conflict zones such as Iran and Afghanistan.
He warned that continued instability in the region could trigger wider economic shocks affecting many countries. He said the global economy cannot afford another prolonged conflict.
