Saudi Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Kuwait's Emir about criticising Iranian strikes on Wednesday. Pakistan's Prime Minister contacted him, calling Houthi strikes in the Red Sea 'wrong.outrageous.'. In Washington, discussions revolve around a planned nuclear pact between Washington and Riyadh. The pact is tied to Riyadh accepting Israel under conditions outlined by former US President Donald Trump. Iranian officials are weighing how the agreement could shift the wider regional order. Watchers say that the pair of tracks of military talks and diplomacy has put Saudi Arabia at the core of Middle Eastern statecraft. Backchannel talks between Saudi and US envoys have continued over recent weeks, even as strikes and counter strikes have grabbed the news. A western official said the civil nuclear file was now closely linked to the Israel file. Within Saudi planning rooms, the priority has been on keeping the kingdom safe, rather than public posturing. At the same time, Tehran is reportedly reviewing options if the US Saudi pact moves forward, with a veteran Iranian official warning of fresh pressure across the wider Middle East.