US Officials Hold Secret Meeting with Houthis in Oman

US officials held a meeting with representatives of the Yemeni Houthi group in Oman last weekend, according to five sources familiar with the matter.

The unpublicised meeting took place at the US Embassy in Muscat. The Omani government, which has long served as a regional mediator, helped facilitate the meeting, as reported by Al Arabiya on Thursday.

The Donald Trump administration previously designated the Houthis as a “foreign terrorist organisation” in March 2025, criminalising all forms of support for the group. However, Washington continued negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement in May last year, following two months of strikes against the group aimed at halting attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

During the meeting held on Sunday, Houthi representatives informed US officials that they do not intend to attack American ships. The Houthis also reaffirmed their commitment to the 2025 ceasefire agreement with the US.

A source from Yemen mentioned that the militia group also stated they would not attack Israeli vessels.

Two sources confirmed that the US side was represented by embassy personnel. Meanwhile, the Houthi delegation was attended by Mohammad Abdulsalam, a senior official residing in Muscat who is currently under US sanctions, and another senior Houthi official, Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.

When asked about the meeting in Oman, a spokesperson for the US Department of State did not provide direct confirmation. However, they emphasised that maintaining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East remain primary US interests.

The Omani Embassy in the US and senior Houthi official Mohammad Abdulsalam have not yet provided official responses to requests for confirmation.