White House says talks with Iran still on 'as far as we're concerned'

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Negotiations between the US and Iran scheduled for later this week will happen as planned "as far as we're concerned," the White House said Tuesday.

"I just spoke with special envoy [Steve] Witkoff, and these talks, as of right now, are still scheduled. President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango," spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

"You need a willing partner to achieve diplomacy, and that's something that special envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing. As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran as commander-in-chief," she added.

Witkoff had been scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday for talks on Iran’s nuclear program, according to multiple reports published this week.

Axios, however, reported Tuesday that Iran demanded changes to the location and stipulated that Tehran wants to change the format.

Reports suggested that representatives from Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar were expected to join the talks, but Axios said Iran is now pushing to hold the talks directly. It also said Tehran wants to move the location from Istanbul to Oman.

Further complicating matters, Leavitt said the US shot down an Iranian drone as it approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, saying the action was appropriate and necessary.

“CENTCOM did make the decision to shoot down that Iranian drone. It was unmanned; it was acting aggressively towards our USS Lincoln, which we know, that aircraft carrier is in the region at the direction of President Trump," Leavitt told Fox News.

She later told reporters that this week's meeting was unaffected by the incident.

"Those talks will continue later this week, as far as we're concerned," she said.