The United States held secret talks with Iran this year in an attempt to persuade Tehran to use its influence over the Houthis in Yemen to end attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to American and Iranian officials.

The officials said, according to a report published by the British newspaper “Financial Times” today (Wednesday), that the indirect negotiations, during which Washington also raised concerns about the expanding Iranian nuclear program, took place in the Sultanate of Oman in January, and were the first Between the two opponents for ten months.

The American delegation was headed by White House Middle East Advisor Brett McGurk and his special envoy to Iran, Abram Paley. Iran was represented by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, who is also the chief nuclear negotiator in Tehran.

The officials said that Omani officials shuttled between Iranian and American representatives; So they didn't talk directly.

The talks highlight how the administration of US President Joe Biden is using diplomatic channels with its opponent, along with military deterrence, in an attempt to calm the wave of regional hostilities involving Iranian-backed armed groups that broke out due to the war between Israel and Hamas.

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A second round of negotiations with McGurk's participation was scheduled to take place in February, but was postponed when he became involved in American efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas to stop the war in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages held in the Strip. According to what was announced by the United Nations spokesman.

The last known talks between the United States and Iran were the so-called indirect talks last May.

Since November, the Houthis have been launching attacks on commercial ships in the region, and they say that the attacks come in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli attack in response to the Hamas movement’s attacks on Israel on October 7. The past.

Iraqi militias allied with Iran also launched dozens of missiles and drones against American forces in Iraq and Syria.

US officials repeatedly accuse Tehran of providing the Houthis with drones, missiles, and intelligence information to launch their attacks on ships.