JD Vance says US has Yemen situation ‘under control,’ in contact with regional partners

US Vice President JD Vance confirmed on September 14 that Washington is engaged in direct negotiations with Yemen’s Houthi movement, the Iranian-backed group that controls much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa. The acknowledgment represents a significant shift in American posture toward a group the US has alternately bombed and blacklisted over the past decade.

Vance told reporters that the US has the situation “under control” and is in constant contact with Saudi Arabia and other regional partners involved in the conflict. He declined to provide specifics on the timing, format, or participants in the talks.

A complicated dance with a familiar adversary

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, have been a fixture in Yemen’s civil war since seizing Sanaa in 2014. Washington previously designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, a label that complicated humanitarian aid delivery to millions of Yemenis living in Houthi-controlled territory.

Vance’s comments arrive in the context of a broader American diplomatic push in the Middle East throughout 2026, which has included high-level interactions with Iranian officials, including high-stakes meetings in Switzerland and initiatives for military communication between US Central Command and Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Why direct talks matter now

Saudi Arabia, which has been fighting the Houthis since 2015 as part of a coalition aimed at restoring Yemen’s internationally recognized government, features prominently in the backdrop. Vance’s emphasis on constant contact with Riyadh suggests the talks are being coordinated with the Saudis rather than happening behind their backs.

Regional implications and the Iran factor

Tehran’s material and advisory support has been critical to the Houthis’ military capabilities, from ballistic missiles to drone technology.

Yemen sits near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for energy shipments. Houthi threats to shipping in the area have periodically rattled commodity markets.

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