Veteran Thai politician Ariboon Outarasin revealed on Friday that he held secret talks with officials from the Palestinian Hamas movement in Iran last week, aiming for the safe release of Thai hostages held by the group in Gaza. Ariboon stated that the direct discussions in the Iranian capital on October 26 lasted for two hours, during which Hamas officials assured him that the Thai hostages were safe and being well taken care of. He declined to name the Hamas officials he met with.