US Secretly Meets Houthi Officials in Oman, Seeks Maritime De-escalation

U.S. representatives held a secret meeting with senior Houthi officials in the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman, over the past weekend, according to five sources familiar with the talks cited by Reuters. This meeting occurred just days after the Houthis seized control of the entire Yemeni Red Sea coastline, including the vital port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. During the discussions, Houthi representatives reportedly assured the U.S. that the group would not target American vessels and would continue to adhere to a ceasefire agreement with the U.S. reached in May 2025. Furthermore, one Yemeni source indicated that the Houthis pledged to refrain from attacking Israeli ships and commercial vessels. However, the blockade affecting Saudi Arabian shipping is expected to continue. Sources indicated that U.S. embassy staff participated in the talks, while senior Houthi figures, including U.S.-sanctioned Mohammad Abdussalam, were present on the Houthi side. Oman, which has a history of mediating between Washington and Iran-aligned groups, facilitated the meeting. The U.S. State Department officially declined to confirm the meeting, with a spokesperson stating only that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing terrorism exports from the region remain key U.S. interests. Earlier, on Saturday, former President Donald Trump mentioned that the Houthis had asked the U.S. to stay out of the Yemen conflict. On Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the United States is in direct contact with the Houthi group.