Saudi Arabia’s deputy minister for public diplomacy rejected a Wall Street Journal account of Houthi demands in talks to end the Yemen war, including $51 billion and recognition as the country’s rulers.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people briefed on the discussions, reported that the Houthis sought the money as compensation for Saudi strikes and a prolonged blockade. It said other sums were discussed later and that the proposed payment remained in the tens of billions. The reported demands remain unverified. No agreement has been reported.
In Saudi Gazette’s English translation of a Nov. 5 post on X, Rayed Krimly wrote: “All of this is pure fabrication by the writers or their alleged sources.”
Separately, The Associated Press reported in October that Krimly said Saudi Arabia had proposed a July meeting with the Houthis in Oman and maintained direct communication with the group. AP reported that Oman facilitated the talks; its account did not confirm the alleged financial or political demands.
