US officials met with Houthi representatives at the US embassy in Muscat earlier this week in talks that Oman helped arrange, according to five sources familiar with the meeting. One source said the meeting was held on Sunday, while three sources said it took place inside the US embassy in the Omani capital.
Houthis pledge not to target US vessels
Two sources said the Omani government helped organise the talks. During the meeting, Houthi representatives told the US side that the group did not intend to attack US vessels and was committed to the ceasefire agreement it reached with the United States in 2025, according to two sources.
A Yemeni source said the group’s representatives also confirmed that they would not target Israeli vessels or other commercial vessels, with the exception of vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia. The statements come amid tensions linked to maritime security in the Red Sea.
The talks’ delegations included officials from both sides
Two sources said embassy staff represented the US side at the meeting. One source said the Houthi delegation included Mohammed Abdulsalam, a senior official based in Muscat who is under US sanctions, while another source confirmed that he attended alongside Houthi official Abdul-Malik al-Ajri.
The US State Department did not confirm that the meeting took place in response to a question about the talks. A department spokesperson said protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East were core US interests.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the Houthis had contacted his administration and asked the United States to stay out of the war in Yemen.
