{
  "id": 7776890,
  "title": "US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/us-officials-met-iran-backed-houthis-in-oman-over-the-weekend-sources",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T11:54:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-908779"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US officials held a meeting with representatives of the Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, according to five sources familiar with the matter. This occurred days after the Houthis seized a strategic section of the Red Sea coast, ousting Saudi-backed forces. The gathering, which remained unannounced, took place at the US Embassy in Muscat, three sources disclosed under anonymity. Oman, a long-standing regional mediator, is said to have assisted in organizing the meeting, as confirmed by two sources. The Trump administration labeled the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in March 2025, making it illegal to support the group. However, the US has been engaging with them, leading to a ceasefire in May last year after a two-month bombing campaign aimed at halting attacks on Red Sea shipping. Trump claimed on Saturday that the Houthis contacted his administration, requesting the US to refrain from involvement in the Yemen war. Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that the US was in direct communication with the group, though no specifics were provided. During the meeting, which one source noted took place on Sunday, the Houthis declared they had no intention of attacking American or Israeli ships, and only commercial vessels belonging to Saudi Arabia would be targeted. The US side was reportedly represented by embassy personnel, with one Houthi delegation member under US sanctions, Mohammad Abdulsalam, and another senior official, Abdelmalik al-Ajiri. The State Department declined to confirm the meeting, citing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing terrorism's export from the Middle East. The Houthis recently took control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline, including the historic port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandab strait, following a decade-long conflict with a Saudi-led coalition. The war lapsed under a ceasefire in recent years, but resumed in July when the Houthis imposed a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea, in retaliation for Saudi's blockade of Yemeni ports. Saudi Arabia's acting ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, called Trump last week seeking US military aid amid the Houthis' sudden advances.",
  "summary": "The meeting, which has not been made public, was held at the US Embassy in Muscat, three of the sources said on the condition of anonymity.",
  "key_points": [
    "US officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over weekend.",
    "Meeting took place at US Embassy in Muscat, organized by Oman.",
    "Houthis declared no intention to attack American or Israeli ships."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "U.S. officials met Iran-backed Houthis in Oman over the weekend, sources say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/u-s-officials-met-iran-backed-houthis-in-oman-over-the-weekend",
        "published": "2026-09-16T11:46:34.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}