IRNA-Indirect Talks w/US Limited To Sanctions Relief

State-run IRNA reporting that according to Tehran, the Iran-US indirect talks reported on in the FT on 13 March "are limited to sanctions relief". The FT had reported that the indirect talks that took place in Oman were focused on the US attempting to "convince Tehran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthi movement to end attacks on ships in the Red Sea, according to US and Iranian officials."

• FT: "US officials acknowledge that military action alone will not be enough to deter the Houthis, and believe that ultimately Tehran will need to pressure the group to curb its activities. Although the Houthis are less ideologically close to Tehran than other militant groups, the relationship has deepened as the movement has become an increasingly important member of the “axis of resistance” backed by Iran."
• Russian state-run RIA claims that the Houthis have successfully tested a hypersonic rocket and are developing more for use in their attacks on shipping. These missiles are intended to be impossible to shoot down, and if they come into regular use would pose an even greater threat to vessels in the region.
• The FT report claims that the talks in January also focused on Iran's nuclear programme. Comes as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warns that Iran continues to enrich uranium well beyond the levels needed for domestic energy production.