Overview
- President Masoud Pezeshkian authorized negotiations provided they occur in a threat‑free setting and serve Iran’s national interests.
- A regional source said Tehran wants to move the planned Friday talks from Istanbul to Oman and restrict them to bilateral discussions on the nuclear file only.
- U.S. Central Command reported shooting down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea as U.S. naval deployments continue.
- The White House says discussions are still expected this week, with envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Abbas Araghchi set to participate and Jared Kushner reported as a possible attendee.
- Iran reiterates it will not negotiate over missiles or regional proxies, while President Trump warns that “bad things” could happen without a deal and says Tehran is “seriously talking.”