Saudi MBS spoke with the Kuwaiti leader 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 US Saudi nuclear deal. The pact is tied to Riyadh accepting Israel under conditions stipulated by ex president Donald Trump. Iranian officials are weighing how the agreement could shift the wider regional order. Watchers say that the twin tracks of security and diplomacy has put Saudi Arabia at the core of talks across the Gulf. Quiet channels between the kingdom and American officials have continued through recent weeks, even as blows and counter blows have led the news cycle. A western official said the civil nuclear file was now tightly bound to the Israel file. Within Saudi planning rooms, the priority has been on defence and deterrence, rather than the optics of the talks. At the same time, Iran is reportedly reviewing options if the deal pushes ahead, with an Iranian veteran warning of further strain across the region.