US officials met Houthi leaders in Oman after Red Sea blitz, got assurances: Report

US officials reportedly met Houthi representatives in Oman on Sunday after the group occupied a significant portion of the strategic Red Sea coast while fighting against Yemen's Saudi-backed forces.According to sources cited by Reuters news agency, the meeting was held at the US Embassy in Muscat and organised by the longtime regional mediator, Oman.On Monday, Vice President JD Vance said the US was in direct contact with the group, two days after President Donald Trump revealed that the Houthis had phoned his administration and asked them to keep out of the Yemen war.Washington has reportedly negotiated with the Iran-backed group since May last year, after two months of bombing to halt a campaign of attacks on Red Sea shipping.During Sunday's meeting, the Houthis reportedly told US officials that they had no intention of attacking American vessels, affirming their commitment to the 2025 ceasefire.A Yemeni source also told Reuters that the Houthis would not attack Israeli ships or any commercial vessels, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.The Houthis have fought against the Saudi-led coalition for more than a decade. Tensions reignited in July when the group declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea as a response to the Saudi blockade of Yemen's ports.The rebel group, which took over Yemen's capital in 2014, now has effective control of the nation's entire Red Sea coastline. This includes the historic port of Mocha, and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb, also called "Gate of Tears".Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, called US President Donald Trump last week seeking military support as the Houthis made rapid advances. Reuters has reported that Washington told Riyadh it would not directly intervene.Two sources said the US delegation at Sunday's meeting was made up of embassy personnel.One source said the Houthi delegation included Mohammad Abdulsalam, a senior official based in Muscat who is under US sanctions. Another source confirmed Abdulsalam's presence along with another senior Houthi official, Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.Asked about the reported meeting, the US state department did not confirm whether American officials had met the Houthis in Oman, but said that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the spread of terrorism from the Middle East were core US interests.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.