Saudi MBS spoke with the Emir of Kuwait about criticising Iranian strikes on Wednesday. the prime minister of Pakistan contacted him, calling Yemeni Houthi strikes on shipping 'unacceptable.'. In Washington, discussions centre on a planned nuclear pact between Washington and Riyadh. The pact is tied to Saudi recognition of Israel under conditions outlined by former US President Donald Trump. Iranian officials are assessing how the deal might shift regional power balances. Observers flag that the dual track of defence talks and statecraft has put the kingdom at the core of regional diplomacy. Backchannel talks between the kingdom and American officials have continued over recent weeks, even as attacks and replies have dominated headlines. A western official said the atomic talks was now closely linked to the normalisation file. Within Saudi planning rooms, the emphasis has stayed on keeping the kingdom safe, rather than public posturing. In parallel, Iran is reportedly reviewing options if the US Saudi pact pushes ahead, with a veteran Iranian official warning of fresh pressure across the region.