Saudi Mohammed bin Salman spoke with the Kuwaiti leader about condemning Iranian attacks on Wednesday. Pakistan's Prime Minister contacted him, calling Houthi strikes in the Red Sea 'wrong.outrageous.'. 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 ex president Donald Trump. Iranian officials are assessing how the deal might shift the wider regional order. Watchers say that the dual track of defence talks and statecraft has put Saudi Arabia at the core of talks across the Gulf. Behind the scenes contacts between the kingdom and American officials have continued through recent weeks, even as blows and counter blows have dominated headlines. A western official said the civil nuclear file was now woven into the Israel file. Inside Saudi policy circles, the emphasis has stayed on defence and deterrence, rather than public posturing. In parallel, Iranian officials is reportedly counting the costs if the nuclear arrangement pushes ahead, with one senior Iranian figure warning of new pressure across the region.