Despite the success of the nightly operations, US officials familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal that the frequency of flight operations has put a strain on aircraft and crew members.
US intelligence officials assess that Rezaei maintains regular contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The two are believed to have spoken in recent days, after the American letter arrived.
The war for Yemen could also affect talks in Tehran, with any talks with Iran taking the Houthis into account.
“For three months now, you have besieged us, imposing an embargo and stepping up surveillance. We have committed no act to justify such hostility,” the jihadist group said in a statement on Telegram.
Trump said the US was in no rush to reach a deal with Iran, citing Tehran's economic troubles as Qatari mediators worked to prevent another round of American strikes.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Friday that two oil tankers were involved in an incident and stopped in waters south of the Strait of Hormuz.
The explosions over the water may have been warning shots fired at ships violating international agreements in the Strait of Hormuz, IRNA added, citing unofficial sources.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis.
The operation, which was announced August 24, aims to cut Tehran's funding for the war, missile construction, cyberattacks, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
According to UKTMO, the vessel was approached by a smaller ship that attached the explosives to the hull above the waterline. The subsequent blasts resulted in a fire in the vessel's engine room.
Israel has not ruled out the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with Lebanon once the security threat posed by Hezbollah has been removed.
