Saudi Arabia Seeks Ceasefire in Yemen, Enlisting Oman and China
Saudi Arabia is actively engaging with Oman and China in an effort to secure a ceasefire with the Houthi rebels and de-escalate the conflict in Yemen. According to a senior source cited by Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese channel affiliated with Hezbollah, Riyadh has asked the Sultanate of Oman to propose a two-week ceasefire to the Houthis. Concurrently, three Iranian sources informed Reuters that China, following a Saudi request, has discreetly urged Tehran to leverage its influence over the Houthis to restrain them.
Al Mayadeen reported that the proposed two-week truce would allow for discussions aimed at resolving humanitarian issues in Yemen, with Saudi Arabia indicating that an agreement on this matter would be announced during the ceasefire. As of now, no official confirmation has been issued by Saudi Arabia, Oman, or the Houthis.
Reuters reported that Riyadh approached Beijing after the Houthis made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which heightened the threat to Saudi oil exports and shipping lanes. While China has publicly called for restraint and dialogue, its private message to Tehran was more focused on preventing the conflict's expansion into energy routes crucial for China's economy.
Iran reportedly responded to China by stating that regional stability depends on ending the war led by the United States and Israel against Iran. The Chinese Foreign Ministry told Reuters that Beijing does not wish to see regional tensions spill into Yemen and the Red Sea, emphasizing that escalating instability serves no party and calling for dialogue to resolve disputes without harming vital infrastructure.
These diplomatic efforts are occurring ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 24. A successful de-escalation could provide Beijing with a significant diplomatic achievement, especially given its role as Iran's largest trading partner and its mediation in restoring Iran-Saudi relations in 2023. The Saudi initiative also aligns with U.S. interests in preventing the opening of new fronts.
In a separate development, the Houthis reportedly informed U.S. representatives in a secret meeting in Oman that their maritime operations would focus on Saudi-linked vessels, not American, Israeli, or other commercial ships. This could remove a key obstacle to easing regional tensions. President Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the war in Iran and post-war plans.
