The United States and Iran are set to hold talks regarding a "potential nuclear agreement" in the coming days. On the 3rd, the arrangements for the negotiations encountered unexpected changes. Previously, it was reported that the talks would be held in Istanbul, Turkey, with participation from several Middle Eastern countries alongside the US and Iran. However, insiders revealed on the 3rd that Iran now prefers to hold the talks in the Gulf state of Oman and in a bilateral format. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the location for talks with the US is still under discussion, while the White House affirmed that the talks are still scheduled to proceed as planned. Amidst the shifting arrangements for the talks, two separate military incidents occurred between the US and Iran in the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. On the 3rd, US forces claimed to have shot down an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea; hours later, Iranian vessels approached a US oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The negotiation plans encountered further complications. Insiders revealed on the 3rd that Iran has requested changes to the location and format of the talks with the US scheduled for the 6th, proposing to move the venue from Istanbul, Turkey, to the Gulf nation of Oman and to conduct the talks on a bilateral basis. Two informed sources stated that while several countries had already been invited to participate, Iran now wishes for the negotiations to involve only Iran and the United States, rather than including multiple Arab and Islamic nations as observers. Later on the 3rd, White House Press Secretary Levitt stated that despite Iran's requests to adjust the location and format of the talks, the meeting between the US and Iran is still planned for this week. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bagheri said on the same day that the negotiation plan has been formulated and is expected to take place within the coming days. Consultations are currently underway to finalize the venue, which will be announced immediately once determined. According to earlier reports, US Special Envoy Witkof and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi were expected to meet in Istanbul on the 6th to discuss a "potential nuclear agreement." Representatives from countries including Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia were also slated to participate in related meetings in Istanbul. If this US-Iran dialogue ultimately materializes, it will mark the first face-to-face meeting between senior officials from the two countries since the US airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. US forces shot down an Iranian drone. Iranian vessels approached a US oil tanker. The US claimed to have shot down an Iranian drone; Iran reported a drone lost contact. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins stated on the 3rd that US forces shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea that day, alleging the drone was "provocatively" approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. Hawkins said the USS Lincoln was navigating the Arabian Sea, approximately 500 miles (about 805 kilometers) from Iran's southern coast, when an Iranian drone approached the carrier. Hawkins claimed that US forces took "de-escalatory measures," but the Iranian drone continued its approach towards the carrier. An F-35C stealth fighter jet from the USS Lincoln subsequently shot down the Iranian drone. White House Press Secretary Levitt later confirmed that US forces had shot down an Iranian drone, describing the action as "appropriate." An Iranian source stated on the 3rd that an Iranian drone had lost contact while performing routine, legal reconnaissance missions in international waters but had successfully transmitted the images it captured. Responding to the US claim of shooting down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea, the source said the drone was conducting routine, legal tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and photography in international waters and had transmitted relevant images back to the command center before losing contact. The cause of the loss of contact is under investigation and will be announced once confirmed. The US claimed to have escorted a US oil tanker; Iran claimed a vessel illegally entered its territorial waters. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins stated on the 3rd that, several hours after the drone incident, two vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and an Iranian drone approached a US-flagged oil tanker, manned by a US crew, at high speed in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to board and seize the tanker. Hawkins said the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer operating in the area, immediately moved to the scene and, with support from the US Air Force, escorted the oil tanker. "The situation was thereby de-escalated, and the oil tanker is now sailing safely," he said. An Iranian official stated on the 3rd that a vessel illegally entered Iranian territorial waters in the Strait of Hormuz that afternoon. The Iranian monitoring team issued a warning after confirming the vessel lacked the necessary sailing permits, prompting the vessel to depart immediately. The Iranian official said the monitoring team requested the vessel's sailing permit, which it did not possess. Upon receiving the Iranian warning, the vessel promptly left Iranian territorial waters. The Iranian official stated that claims by a British maritime security firm of a "security incident" occurring in the Strait of Hormuz were inaccurate. Signals for negotiations were released amidst intensive statements from Iran, the US, and Israel. Iranian President Pezeshkian stated on the 3rd that he has instructed Foreign Minister Araghchi to engage in "fair and just negotiations" with the United States based on principles of prudence and pragmatism. He emphasized that the talks must proceed within a framework that aligns with Iran's national interests. Although the US and Iran have not officially confirmed when they will return to the negotiating table, both sides have already engaged in intense maneuvering over the conditions for talks. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bagheri clarified Iran's stance on the upcoming contacts on the 2nd, emphasizing that the lifting of sanctions is the core demand for Iran's participation in the diplomatic process. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed the Iran issue with the visiting US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Witkof. On the 3rd local time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with visiting US Middle East Envoy Witkof. The talks lasted over three hours. The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement saying that Netanyahu told the US side during the meeting that "Iran has repeatedly proven itself untrustworthy and incapable of adhering to any commitments." Former US President Trump again threatened military action against Iran. White House Press Secretary Levitt stated on the 3rd that if diplomatic efforts fail, former President Trump retains the option of taking military action, adding that Trump "still holds multiple options regarding Iran." Former US President Trump issued another military threat against Iran from the White House on the 2nd. He warned that negotiations with Iran are ongoing, stating, "If we can reach some kind of agreement, that would be great. If not, a bad situation could arise." Former US Defense Secretary Hagerty said on the 2nd that if US-Iran nuclear talks fail to yield an agreement, Iran will face "other options," for which US forces are "prepared" and "very well prepared." Israel's "Three No's" demand outlines the framework for US-Iran negotiations. According to Israeli sources on the 2nd, Israel has presented the United States with three conditions that must be met in any agreement with Iran: that Iran does not develop its nuclear program, does not develop its ballistic missile program, and does not provide support to so-called "proxies in the Middle East." Simultaneously, Israel has further elevated its combat readiness. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Zamir stated on the 2nd that the military is in a "period of continuously increasing readiness levels." The focus of the negotiations is Iran's nuclear program. Iran: Has no intention of transferring enriched uranium abroad. Informed sources indicated that Iran is willing to shut down or suspend its nuclear program and ship its enriched uranium to Russia, which would constitute a significant concession. However, Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei, stated on the 2nd that Iran "has no intention of transferring its enriched uranium abroad" and reiterated the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program. He said that if external parties are concerned, Iran could reduce the enrichment level of its uranium from 60% to 20%, but Iran must receive something in return. Whether the US would accept Iran's proposal to reduce uranium enrichment levels remains uncertain. According to Israeli sources, the US still hopes Iran will transfer its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium. The US may discuss Iran's missile program; Iran: Not up for discussion. Beyond demands regarding Iranian uranium enrichment, the US side appears not to have abandoned its goal of restricting Iran's missile capabilities. Analysis suggests the upcoming US-Iran talks might proceed on two tracks: one dedicated specifically to the Iranian nuclear program issue, and another addressing broader topics, including restrictions on Iran's missile program, among other things. However, several Iranian officials have recently stated that the negotiations should focus solely on the nuclear program and not discuss "impossible topics" such as the missile project.