WASHINGTON, May 29 (UPI) -- Top officials in the U.S. government say the Iranian government has secretly been in contact with al-Qaida leaders in recent months.

The officials told ABC News that highly sensitive intelligence indicates the Iranian government has communicated with al-Qaida leaders on the status of high-level operatives in the terrorist organization who have been under house arrest in Iran since 2003.

ABC said the operatives include two sons of al-Qaida leader bin Laden' title='Osama bin Laden' class='tpstyle'>Osama bin Laden.

"The Iranians know there would be hell to pay if these guys were set free," one official said.

"Iran likely sees these individuals, as major bargaining chips," another official told ABC News. "How and when they're going to use those chips or whether they are going to keep them in the bank is part of an ongoing strategic discussion they are having internally."

ABC News said all of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity.