Washington (HRNW)-\u00a0US Vice President JD Vance has confirmed that Washington is in direct contact with Yemen\u2019s Houthi movement amid renewed fighting and rising tensions in the Red Sea region. He also said the United States remains in regular communication with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries affected by the conflict.<\/p>\n
The disclosure follows a Reuters report that US officials recently held a previously undisclosed meeting with Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Muscat, Oman. The meeting was reportedly facilitated by Oman, which has long played a mediating role in the region.<\/p>\n
According to sources cited by Reuters, Houthi representatives told US officials that they would not target American vessels and remained committed to the 2025 ceasefire with Washington. The sources also said the Houthi delegation included senior officials Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri.<\/p>\n
The US State Department has not confirmed the specific meeting, although a spokesperson said protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and preventing the spread of terrorism remain core US interests.<\/p>\n
The reported contacts come as Houthi forces have made major advances along Yemen\u2019s Red Sea coast and as hostilities with Saudi Arabia have intensified. The latest escalation has also raised concerns over maritime security and international shipping through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Houthi political bureau has denied the US administration\u2019s characterization of direct contact, adding another layer of uncertainty to the reported diplomatic exchanges.<\/p>\n
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