U.S. and Houthis Open Talks as Saudi Oil Crisis Deepens

U.S. officials held weekend talks with a delegation from Yemen's Ansar Allah (the Houthis) in Muscat, where the group pledged not to strike U.S. interests and said it would limit attacks to Saudi forces and shipping. The diplomatic contact coincided with preparations for President Trump to meet Persian Gulf leaders in New York during the U.N. General Assembly as Saudi Arabia confronts deepening energy and security disruptions after multiple regional attacks on its oil infrastructure.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 10 hours agoUpdated about 1 hour ago0 views

Why It Matters

The discussions signal a tactical U.S. shift away from direct military backing for Saudi operations in Yemen and come as Saudi oil flows and export revenues face strain from attacks on pipelines, ports and other infrastructure — developments that could have wider economic and security implications across the Gulf.

Key Facts

U.S.-Houthis meeting: U.S. officials met an Ansar Allah delegation in Oman at the U.S. embassy in Muscat over the weekend (reported by Reuters).
Houthis' assurances: Ansar Allah committed to not targeting U.S. interests and said it would target Saudi forces and Saudi shipping attempting to enter the Red Sea.
U.S. response to Saudi request: The U.S. opted not to militarily intervene on Saudi Arabia's behalf in Yemen after the meeting.
Territorial control in Yemen: About 80% of Yemen's population lives in territory controlled by Ansar Allah (the Houthis).
End of truce: A four-year truce between Saudi Arabia and Ansar Allah ended on July 13 after Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa's airport.

U.S. diplomats met representatives of Yemen's Ansar Allah (commonly called the Houthis) in Muscat over the weekend, Reuters reported, and the delegation assured American officials it would refrain from attacking U.S. interests. According to reporting, the Houthi delegation said it intended to limit its operations to Saudi military targets and Saudi-linked shipping that tried to transit the Red Sea. That contact reportedly influenced the Trump administration's decision not to accede to Saudi requests for direct U.S. military intervention in Yemen. The talks occur as President Trump prepares to meet Persian Gulf leaders in New York next week on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly, where U.S. officials are expected to present ideas for a post-conflict regional strategy. Iranian and Gulf diplomacy has been under strain: an anticipated meeting that would have allowed Iran and Oman to propose arrangements for Strait of Hormuz traffic management was postponed, and Iranian officials have signaled they will not resume negotiations until their conditions are met. Fighting between Saudi forces and Ansar Allah has intensified in recent days. The cessation of a four-year truce on July 13 — triggered after Saudi strikes on Sanaa's airport — preceded Houthi moves to blockade Saudi traffic into the Red Sea and capture Yemen's remaining western coastline, including positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia has suffered damage to oil infrastructure from related attacks and has faced shortages of missile interceptors, prompting requests for air-defense support from several countries. The security fallout has compounded economic pressures on Riyadh. Attacks on pipelines and ports have disrupted shipping and crude flows; one Iran-aligned Iraqi militia struck Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline at multiple points, forcing its closure. Saudi authorities reportedly sought interest for an $8 billion commercial loan, and some reports suggested partial pipeline capacity could be restored within days if further strikes do not occur. The combination of military losses, infrastructure damage and reduced export capacity has heightened regional risk as Gulf leaders and the U.S. pursue diplomatic responses.