“They are one of the few countries in the region that have the ability to talk to the Houthis and we made clear that it is time for them to press the Houthis to declare a ceasefire,” he said on Monday. The US State Department rebuked the Houthis for their refusal to meet UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths in Muscat last week. It said the rebels “passed up a major opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to peace". “The Saudis have put forward a serious offer and it is now time for the Houthis to do their part,” said Mr Murphy, a frequent critic of US assistance for the Saudi-led coalition fighting to reinstate the internationally recognised Yemeni government.