U.S. officials held secret talks with Houthi representatives in Oman

U.S. officials and representatives of the Yemeni Houthi movement held undisclosed meetings at the American embassy in Muscat, Oman, over the past weekend. The talks, facilitated by the Omani government, took place against the backdrop of significant Houthi territorial gains, including the recent seizure of Yemen’s western coastline and control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is critical for international shipping.

During the discussions, the Houthi delegation reportedly assured U.S. representatives that they would refrain from attacking American, Israeli, or general commercial vessels, with the specific exception of Saudi Arabian ships. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the existing ceasefire agreement reached in 2025. While the U.S. State Department has not officially confirmed the meeting, emphasizing that the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea remains a vital national interest, the reports highlight the complexity of managing regional security.

The Trump administration designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization in March 2025, a legal framework that complicates official diplomatic engagement. Despite these tensions, the U.S. continues to seek channels of communication to de-escalate maritime threats while the Houthis consolidate their influence over key naval corridors in the region.