US Navy shoots down Iranian drone amid regional tension
發佈日期: 2026-02-04 20:48
TVB News
Iran's president said he instructed the country's foreign minister to "pursue fair and equitable negotiations" with the United States.
This, in the first clear sign from Tehran it wants to try to negotiate as tensions remain high with Washington after the Middle Eastern country's crackdown on nationwide protests last month.
The announcement came as a US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier.
The shift towards negotiations marked a major turn for Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian. It also signals that the president received support from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for talks the 86-year-old cleric had previously dismissed.
Turkey has been working behind the scenes to make the talks happen there later this week as US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling in the region.
A Turkish official later said the location of talks was uncertain but that Turkey was ready to support the process.
Foreign ministers from Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also reportedly been invited to attend the talks.
However, whether Iran and the US can reach an agreement remains to be seen.
This, particularly given as US President Donald Trump has included concesssions on Iran's nuclear program in a list of demands from Tehran in any talks.
In an exchange with reporters, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff has been planning to hold talks with Iranian officials later this week.
It was the first direct acknowledgement of the talks by Washington.
Leavitt said: "Well, look, I just spoke with Special Envoy 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. You need a willing partner to achieve diplomacy, and that's something that Special Envoy Witkoff is intent on exploring and discussing."
The announcements regarding talks came as a US Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft carrier.
U.S. Central Command said the drone "aggressively approached" the aircraft carrier with "unclear intent" and it "continued to fly towards the ship despite deescalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters."
The Shahed-139 drone was shot down by an F-35C fighter jet from the USS Abraham Lincoln, which was sailing about 805 kilometres from Iran's southern coast.
