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U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington is in talks with Yemen’s Houthi group and that the Iran-aligned movement is interested in reaching an agreement, as the group’s territorial gains put renewed pressure on key Red Sea shipping routes.
"We’re talking to the Houthis also, and they would like to see if we can make a deal," Trump told NewsNation in a phone interview on Friday. Trump did not provide details about the talks, including where they were taking place, who was participating, or what specific terms were under discussion.
Trump’s remarks publicly confirmed contacts that U.S. officials had already held with Houthi representatives in Oman earlier in the week.
U.S. officials met with Houthi representatives at the U.S. Embassy in Muscat over the weekend, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, with Oman helping facilitate the contacts.
The discussions come as the Houthis have made significant territorial gains in Yemen and tightened their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The group recently seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha and nearby islands, bringing important stretches of the Yemeni coastline under its control. The developments have increased concerns over shipping and energy flows through the region.
Trump also spoke about the possibility of further U.S. military action against Iran, saying Tehran is seeking a deal with Washington.
Asked about his recent warning that he was considering whether to "annihilate" Iran, Trump offered no indication of what his next move would be, saying, "We’ll see what happens."
He said Iran’s willingness to negotiate could factor into his decision, arguing that Tehran is currently "losing in every way" financially and militarily. "Right now, they want to make a deal," Trump said.
He added that he would not consider an agreement if he did not view its terms as acceptable, saying, "If the deal’s not a correct deal, then I wouldn’t even think about it."
Trump had expressed hope Wednesday that the war, which has entered its seventh month, was nearing an end, but a day later he said he was approaching a major decision on whether to resume large-scale attacks against Iran.
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