Houthis Meet US Officials in Oman: What Was Discussed?
Representatives of the Houthi group, allied with Iran, held meetings with United States officials in Oman last weekend. The meeting took place while the Houthis are engaged in recent battles with Yemeni government forces and the Saudi-led coalition.
This closed-door meeting, as reported by Reuters and TRT World on Thursday (17/09/2026), was revealed by five sources familiar with the matter speaking to Reuters. Three anonymous sources stated that the meeting between the Houthis and US officials occurred last weekend but was not made public. The meeting was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
According to two sources cited by Reuters, the Omani government, which has long served as a regional mediator, helped facilitate the meeting.
The administration of US President Donald Trump designated the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organisation” in March 2025, making support for the group a criminal act. However, since then, Washington has engaged in negotiations with the Houthis and reached a ceasefire agreement for the Yemen conflict in May last year.
The US previously deployed military operations for two months targeting the Houthis in the Red Sea in an attempt to halt the group’s series of attacks against ships in strategic waters. The US operation concluded with a ceasefire with the Houthis.
Last Saturday (12/09), Trump revealed that the Houthi side had contacted his administration via telephone to request that the US not involve itself in the Yemen conflict. Subsequently, on Monday (14/09), Vice President JD Vance stated that Washington was in direct contact with the Houthis, though Vance did not provide further details regarding the specifics of the discussions.
What was discussed in the Houth-US meeting?
During the meeting in Oman, according to sources cited by Reuters, the Houthis conveyed to US officials that they have no intention of attacking American ships and are committed to the ceasefire agreement reached with the US in 2025. One source, from Yemeni authorities, stated that the Houthis also declared they would not attack Israeli ships or commercial vessels from other nations, with the exception of Saudi ships.
According to the two sources, the US side was represented by personnel from the US Embassy in Muscat. The Houthi delegation was represented by a senior official of the group based in Muscat who is subject to US sanctions, Mohammad Abdulsalam. Another source mentioned the presence of another senior Houthi official, Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.
The Yemen conflict has flared up again since last July, with the Houthis returning to fierce fighting against Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia. The recent battles have also drawn Riyadh into the conflict. The Houthis have announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and have targeted Saudi ships in attacks in the Red Sea. Houthi forces have also launched a series of attacks against Saudi territory recently.
The group claimed responsibility for launching large-scale operations involving missiles and drones targeting the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait. The Houthis have even threatened to expand the scope of attacks deep into Saudi territory. This week, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting the holy city of Mecca with drone attacks, an allegation that the Houthis have vehemently denied.