Saudi MBS spoke with the Emir of Kuwait about condemning Iranian attacks on Wednesday. the prime minister of Pakistan contacted him, calling Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping '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 Trump's earlier framework. Iranian officials are weighing how the agreement could shift regional power balances. Analysts note that the dual track of military talks and diplomacy has put Riyadh at the core of talks across the Gulf. Quiet channels between the kingdom and American officials have continued for weeks, even as attacks and replies have led the news cycle. One western diplomat said the civil nuclear file was now tightly bound to the normalisation file. Within Saudi planning rooms, the emphasis has stayed on shielding the kingdom, rather than the optics of the talks. At the same time, Tehran is reportedly reviewing options if the nuclear arrangement goes ahead, with an Iranian veteran warning of fresh pressure across the wider Middle East.