US, Oman discuss Yemen peace prospects in Muscat

The pair discussed Yemen's war and the urgency of addressing the deepening humanitarian crisis, which the UN has called the "world's worst", according to the Oman News Agency.

They also emphasised supporting efforts to reach a political settlement between the warring Yemeni parties.

Though a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Oman has remained neutral in Yemen's war and has refused to join the Saudi-led coalition, which intervened in March 2015 to fight the Houthis and reinstall the government of Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. 

Oman has also been active in promoting dialogue in the war and mediating between conflciting sides. 

Read more: Why Biden’s pledges to 'end' involvement in the Yemen war are not enough

Lenderking's 10-day tour of the Gulf region comes amid intensified efforts by the US administration to find a settlement to the seven-year-old crisis in Yemen. The US envoy planned to meet with senior government officials and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths.

This follow Lenderking’s visit to Riyadh on Tuesday where he met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir. The pair discussed developments in Yemen and issues of common concern.  

He also met the foreign minister of Yemen’s internationally recognised government Ahmed bin Mubarak to discuss the Houthis military escalation in Marib, which it ramped up after the Biden administration’s decision to remove the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), which Donald Trump sanctioned.

Bin Mubarak claimed the Houthis have become “addicted to the war” and have shown disregard to human lives, especially the children “who are thrown into their losing battles,” as they implement orders received from the Iranian regime with the aim of “destabilising the security of Yemen and the region.”

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