Trump Admin Quietly Opens Direct Talks With Iran-Backed Houthis As Yemen War Heats Up

U.S. officials reportedly held undisclosed talks with Iran-backed Houthi representatives in Oman over the weekend as the rebels make major battlefield gains against Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.

The alleged meeting took place at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat and was facilitated in part by the Omani government, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing five sources familiar with the matter. The talks indicate Washington is communicating directly with the Houthis even as the Trump administration continues to formally designate the group as a foreign terrorist organization, according to the Federal Register.

“The significance of the timing of U.S. direct talks with the Houthis has to do with what it says about the Iranian regime’s calculus and the successes of the U.S. efforts to eliminate threats from it to the American people,” Jacob Olidort, the director of American Security at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “The Iranian regime regards the Houthis as a lower-risk option to escalate attacks against U.S. personnel and partners in the region (as opposed to directly doing so or relying on more prominent proxies like Hezbollah).”

“The Houthis likely seek to extract some semblance of international legitimacy by proving they can responsibly guard the Bab-el-Mandeb,” Alex Welz, senior research associate for the Middle East and North Africa at the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security, told the DCNF. “However, they remain a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, firm Iranian proxies, and sworn enemies of the West, so their commitments should be taken lightly.”

“We have no comment on this specific reported meeting,” a State Department spokesperson told the DCNF. “However, we remain in regular communication with our regional allies and partners regarding Yemen and are focused on our shared counterterrorism goals against the Houthis and other terrorist groups that sow chaos throughout the region.”

The Houthis allegedly told American officials that they had no intention of attacking U.S. vessels and remained committed to a ceasefire reached with Washington in 2025, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the discussions. A Yemeni source also said the Houthis pledged not to attack Israeli or other commercial vessels, except for Saudi ships, according to Reuters.

“The United States reserves the right to protect its national and international interests,” a State Department spokesperson told the DCNF. “Our commitment to Israel is ironclad. Israel has the right to defend itself, and the United States supports Israel taking necessary action to defend its country, consistent with international law.”

Senior Houthi official Mohammad Abdulsalam, who is under U.S. sanctions, attended the talks alongside Abdelmalik al-Ajiri, while embassy personnel represented the American side, Reuters reported. The State Department did not confirm that the meeting occurred but said protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the export of terrorism from the Middle East remain core U.S. interests, Reuters reported, citing a department spokesperson.

“As a proxy of the Iranian regime, the Houthis receive training, funding and direction from the regime,” Olidort told the DCNF. “In that light, if the Houthis are offering these assurances could be interpreted and addressed as part of the regime’s response. Most immediately, these assurances indicate that the regime is concerned that any weakening of the Houthis amid a conflict with Saudi Arabia would mean the regime loses a regional proxy and source for regional instability amid this period of diplomatic and economic isolation.”