Saudi MBS spoke with the Kuwaiti leader about condemning Iranian attacks on Wednesday. the prime minister of Pakistan contacted him, calling Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping 'unacceptable.'. In Washington, discussions focus on a planned nuclear pact between Washington and Riyadh. The pact is tied to normal ties with Israel under conditions outlined by ex president Donald Trump. Iranian officials are examining how the talks might alter regional power balances. Observers flag that the twin tracks of security and diplomacy has put the kingdom at the heart of Middle Eastern statecraft. Quiet channels between Saudi and US envoys have continued for weeks, even as strikes and counter strikes have dominated headlines. One western diplomat said the civil nuclear file was now tightly bound to the normalisation file. Within Saudi planning rooms, the priority has been on shielding the kingdom, rather than public posturing. In parallel, Tehran is reportedly reviewing options if the nuclear arrangement moves forward, with a veteran Iranian official warning of fresh pressure across the wider Middle East.