The talks were held in January. And an American official said, we want to prevent a broader conflict.

The Houthi militias continue their ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, causing the damage of 15 commercial ships amid continuing US-British air strikes on the group.

Informed sources revealed that the United States held secret talks with Iran this year in an attempt to persuade Tehran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthi movement to end Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to American and Iranian officials.

The officials said that the indirect negotiations, during which Washington raised concerns about Iran’s expanding nuclear program, took place in Amman in January and were the first between the two rivals in ten months, according to the Financial Times.

The story of the American destroyer Laboon, which the Houthis are trying to target. Sources said that Omani officials conveyed messages between the Iranian and American representatives who did not speak directly.

The talks highlighted how the Biden administration is using diplomatic channels with its opponent, along with military deterrence, in an attempt to calm the wave of regional hostilities carried out by armed groups that erupted after the war between Israel and Hamas.

A person familiar with the matter said that US officials viewed establishing an indirect channel with Iran as “a way to discuss the full range of threats emanating from Iran, including conveying ‘what they need to do in order to prevent a broader conflict.”

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 broke an agreement between Israel and Hamas to stop the war in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages held in the Strip.

Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 led to the outbreak of war, Hezbollah has exchanged fire daily with Israel on the Lebanese border. The Houthis attacked dozens of ships, including commercial ships and American naval vessels. Iraqi militias allied with Iran launched dozens of missiles and drones against American forces in Iraq and Syria.

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

Iran acknowledges its support for the Houthis, who control northern Yemen, and justified their attacks as support for the Palestinians. Iran claims that it does not dictate orders to the Houthis and that the Houthis operate independently.

The group has launched 99 attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, affecting 15 commercial ships, including four American ships, since October.

American officials acknowledge that military action alone will not be enough to deter the Houthis, and they believe that Tehran will eventually need to pressure the group to limit its activities.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said that yesterday, Tuesday, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile from an area they control in Yemen towards the destroyer Laboon in the Red Sea, but it did not hit it and there were no material or human losses.

The command added in a statement early Wednesday, “The United States Central Command and a coalition ship succeeded in engaging and destroying two drones launched from an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.”