The United States is holding direct talks with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, even as its ally Saudi Arabia continues its fight against the group, creating a growing gap between Washington and Riyadh. American diplomats met Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend to discuss the Red Sea conflict and the future of a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis.
US wants Red Sea route kept open
The meeting was arranged with the help of the Omani government and took place at the US embassy in Muscat, according to a regional source familiar with the talks. The main focus was to keep the May 2025 ceasefire between Washington and the Houthis in place and ensure that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains open to shipping.
US diplomats represented Washington at the meeting, while the US ambassador did not attend.
During the talks, Houthi representatives said they wanted the ceasefire with the US to continue. They also said their attacks were focused on Saudi ships because of the renewed fighting with Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis told the US that other vessels would be allowed to move freely through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is an important shipping route between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia fights Houthis alone
The direct US-Houthi contact comes at a sensitive time for Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has been increasing its airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, while forces backed by Saudi Arabia have so far failed to make an effective ground advance.
The Houthis still control parts of Yemen’s coastline and several islands around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Their position gives them influence over a major international shipping route.
In recent days, fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has grown more intense. The Houthis launched a drone attack towards the holy city of Mecca and also fired missiles towards other Saudi cities.
Washington has so far rejected Saudi requests for direct US military involvement in the conflict. Instead, the US appears focused on protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea without being pulled into Saudi Arabia’s wider war against the Houthis.
Vance confirms direct contact
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed on Monday, 14th September, that Washington has been communicating directly with the Houthis.
“We’ve also been engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis themselves,” Vance told reporters, saying the US felt it was on top of the situation.
The State Department did not confirm the specific Muscat meeting but said the US remained focused on its interests in the region.
“The United States’ core interests in the Middle East include ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the region, as well as preventing the export of terrorism,” a State Department spokesperson said.
The department added that the Trump administration remained committed to defending those interests against aggression from Iran and its proxies. It also said Washington was in regular contact with regional allies and partners over Yemen and was working towards shared counterterrorism goals against the Houthis and other groups.
Oman plays role in talks
Oman has again emerged as a key channel for communication between Washington and the Houthis. On Tuesday, 15th September, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi about efforts to reduce tensions in the region.
The conversation came after weeks of tension between Washington and Muscat. President Donald Trump had threatened to bomb Oman over talks it held with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments show that while Saudi Arabia is stepping up its military campaign against the Houthis, the US is maintaining its own direct channel with the group and avoiding military involvement on Riyadh’s side.
