White House: Talks with Iran still scheduled after drone downing

(Patria) - The White House announced on Tuesday that the United States still plans to hold talks with Iranian officials this week, even after a US warplane shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching a US aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, AFP reported.

"I just spoke with Special Envoy (Steve) Witkoff and these talks are, for now, still scheduled," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters, adding that they are expected to take place "later this week".

"President Trump always wants to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango," Leavitt said in front of the West Wing.

The meeting between Witkoff, a businessman appointed by Trump as his traveling negotiator for global conflicts, and Iranian officials will "likely" take place in Turkey, a source close to the matter told AFP.

The US military had previously announced that an F-35C stealth fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was "aggressively" approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on Tuesday.

Trump's spokeswoman added that the US president is keeping the possibility of military action against Iran open, given that a large number of US warships are now in the region.

"Of course, the president always has a range of options on the table, and that includes the use of military force," Leavitt told Fox News in a separate interview.

She added that "the Iranians know that better than anyone," referring to US military strikes that hit Iran's nuclear program last year.