American diplomats convened with Houthi officials on Sunday for an undisclosed session at the embassy in Muscat. The Iran-backed group stated it has no intention of attacking American, Israeli, or commercial ships, while maintaining that Saudi-owned vessels remain targets, sources told Reuters. 5 people familiar with the matter confirmed the gathering and the group's expressed commitment to the 2025 ceasefire signed with Washington.

The dialogue follows the seizure of Perim Island and other stretches of the Red Sea coastline by Houthi forces. Sanctioned official Mohammed Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajri were part of the delegation, meeting as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks U.S. military support against the militia. The State Department declined to confirm the event but emphasized that protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea remains a U.S. interest.