Trump-Iran live updates: US military shoots down Iranian drone in Arabian Sea
The incident came ahead of planned talks between Iran and the United States
The US on Tuesday shot down an Iranian drone that "aggressively" approached the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, the US military said.
The incident came as diplomats sought to arrange nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. President Donald Trump had warned that with US warships heading toward Iran, "bad things" would probably happen if a deal could not be reached.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the US had shot down an Iranian drone, to Fox News on Tuesday. She added that talks with Iran later this week are still scheduled to take place, she added during an interview on the 'America Reports' program.
An Iranian Shahed-139 drone flew towards the carrier “with unclear intent” and was shot down by an F-35 US fighter jet, the US military said.
Netanyahu tells Witkoff that Tehran 'won't honour nuclear agreement'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday amid efforts to revive diplomacy over Iran's nuclear programme that Tehran was unlikely to honour any potential agreement.
In a meeting with the US envoy, Netanyahu "made clear his position that Iran has repeatedly proven that its promises cannot be trusted," a statement from his office said.
Two Israeli officials said the meeting was also attended by Israel's spy agency head David Barnea, Defence Minister Israel Katz and military commander Eyal Zamir.
Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Trump may be very proud of his ‘armada’ off the coast of Iran but the US president could look good, back a winner, and support his allies by leaving Tehran alone and helping Ukraine win instead, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
Why Iran is the wrong war for Trump to back
Who else is invited to US-Iran talks?
Several foreign ministers from nearby countries have been invited to this week’s talks, including from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
Watch: Trump fires back at Iranian supreme leader’s ‘regional war’ warning
'It takes two to tango' with diplomacy, says White House press secretary
White House press secretary has affirmed intentions to continue talks with Iran but said “it takes two to tango”.
"President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango," said Karoline Leavitt. "You need a willing partner to achieve diplomacy, and that's something that special envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing."
Leavitt's comments came soon after US Central Command announced that a US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
Leavitt added, "As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran."
US president's three conditions for resuming talks with Iran
The US president has demanded three conditions for resuming talks, according to Iranian sources. These include zero enrichment of uranium in Iran, limits on Tehran's ballistic missile programme and ending its support for regional proxies.
Tehran has previously rejected these demands as unacceptable impediments on its sovereignty, but Iranian officials have suggested that the regime’s clerical rulers see limits on the ballistic missile programme, rather than uranium enrichment, as a bigger obstacle.
Pictured: Oil futures prices rose more than $1 per barrel after drone shot down
Pictured: The Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea
Iran demands location change for talks with US
Iran is demanding that talks with the US this week be held in Oman not Turkey, and that the scope be narrowed to two-way talks on nuclear issues only, a regional source said on Tuesday, casting doubt on whether the meeting will go ahead as planned.
Iran's effort to change the venue and agenda for the talks, currently scheduled for Friday in Istanbul, came amid heightened tensions as the US builds up forces in the Middle East.
Regional players have pushed for resolution of a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes.
Related: Iran gives go-ahead for US talks but warns Trump against ‘threats’
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has given the go-ahead for talks with the US in Turkey this week, but warned against any further threats by the Trump administration.
Turkey will host the discussions, aimed at de-escalating tensions following Washington’s threats of military action in response to Tehran’s bloody crackdown of nationwide protests early this year.
Alex Croft reports:
Iran warns Trump against ‘threats and unreasonable expectations’ after agreeing talks
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