Senior Houthi officials traveled to the American Embassy in Muscat on Sunday for a previously undisclosed meeting with US government representatives. During the talks, the Iran-backed group pledged to stop attacking American, Israeli, and commercial vessels, while specifically maintaining its intent to target Saudi-owned ships, according to sources cited by Reuters. The meeting occurred days after the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab strait.

The US agreed not to provide air support to Saudi-backed forces or strike targets in Houthi territory in exchange for keeping the Bab al-Mandab open to international shipping. Sanctioned Houthi officials Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajri attended the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to a 2025 ceasefire. President Donald Trump told NewsNation that the US is talking to the Houthis and that the militia wants to reach a deal.