U.S. diplomats meet with Houthis as Red Sea crisis intensifies

U.S. diplomats met with representatives of the Houthi group at the U.S. embassy in Oman over the weekend to discuss tensions in the Red Sea, according to a regional source. The meeting in Muscat, organized with the assistance of the Omani government, aimed to maintain a ceasefire between the U.S. and the Houthis and ensure the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains open for shipping, the source explained.

The U.S. is in a precarious situation, seeking to keep the vital shipping lane open while avoiding involvement in Saudi Arabia's conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Washington has so far declined Saudi requests for direct military intervention.

The meeting was reportedly attended by U.S. diplomats from the embassy, though the ambassador did not participate. The Houthi representatives emphasized their commitment to continuing the May 2025 ceasefire with the U.S. during the talks. They also stated that their attacks were focused solely on Saudi ships during the renewed fighting between the two parties, and pledged to allow unrestricted passage for other vessels through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the U.S. is actively negotiating with the Houthis and conducting direct conversations with them, expressing confidence in their ability to manage the situation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with the Omani Foreign Minister on Tuesday, discussing deescalation efforts in the region following weeks of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Oman.

The dispute between the U.S. and Oman escalated after Trump threatened to bomb Oman for its talks with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.