CAIRO (Sputnik) – In late May, media reports suggested that reconciliation talks were being held in Oman's capital, Muscat. They are allegedly attended by a group of high-ranking Houthi members and Iranian representatives on one side, and US and Saudi delegates on the other. The internationally recognized Yemeni authorities denied any involvement in the talks.
"No agreements have been reached at the ongoing talks in Oman, these [meetings in Oman] are only consultations. Parties to negotiations are meeting with Ansar Allah…and learning about their stance on the country’s future," Shami told RIA Novosti.
Shami denied any meetings between the representatives of the United States and Houthis.
In late March, a Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen at the request of ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The campaign, dubbed Operation Decisive Storm, was replaced by Operation Restoring Hope in April, with the coalition saying it was halting military action in Yemen but the strikes continued.
According to the estimates by the World Health Organization, almost 2,000 people have been killed and more than 8,000 injured in Yemen since the conflict escalated in March.
