The US held secret talks with Iran this year to try to halt Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, the Financial Times reported.
The newspaper said US officials sought to convince Tehran to use its influence over the rebels to stop the missile and drone strikes that have targeted dozens of ships since mid-November.
The talks took place in Oman in January, according to the newspaper citing unidentified Iranian and US officials.
The two sides did not speak directly but Omani intermediaries shuttled between the two delegations, according to the reports.
The talks failed to halt attacks by the Houthi rebels, who control large areas of Yemen including the capital Sanaa after a decade of war and civil strife.
The first fatal strike last week killed three seafarers on the Barbados-flagged 50,448-dwt bulk carrier True Confidence (built 2021).
Dozens of previous attacks had failed to hit their targets or caused limited damage with no loss of life.
The Houthis have also vowed to escalate their attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, according to the military spokesman Yahya Saree.
The Houthis have said that they are attacking vessels they believe to be aligned with Israel over the war with Gaza.
The attacks have contributed to an upheaval in shipping markets with vessels forced to re-route via the Cape of Good Hope.
The combination of Red Sea re-routing and the longer haul routes for the sanction-hit Russian trade has boosted demand for bunkers and forced the International Energy Agency to increase its forecast for global oil demand in 2024.
Read more
- d’Amico International boosts dividend further on record annual profit
- Red Sea crisis boosting global oil demand as ships seek safer, longer routes
- Zim warns rates could fall to earth if Red Sea transits resume
- Greek war ship joins anti-Houthi action, downing drones off Yemen
- Return of Somali piracy opens up a second front in the war on shipping
