Trump Warns Iran's Leader Khamenei Ahead Of Oman Talks, Says Should Be 'very Worried'

Washington: Amid reports that Washington and Tehran prepare to resume nuclear talks this week, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued fresh warning to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying that "should be very worried".

What did Trump say?

While responding to the question on whether Iran's supreme leader should be concerned, the US President said that, "I would say he should be very worried, yeah. He should be."

Donald Trump in an interview with NBC News on Wednesday further said that "As you know, they are negotiating with us."

Earlier, a US official had confirmed that talks between the US and Iran will take place on Friday in Muscat, hosted by Oman. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had also informed that the discussions are expected to begin around 10 am local time.

What did the US Secretary say?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that Washington is open to talks with Iran but also stressed that  the discussions must go beyond nuclear issues.

"As far as the talks are concerned, you know, I think the Iranians had agreed to a certain format — for whatever reason, it’s changed in their system. We'll see if we can get back to the right place. But the United States is prepared to meet with them," Rubio said.

What about military action?

The US military on Tuesday shot down an Iranian drone that was "aggressively" approaching the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. ​​

Meanwhile, Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that "we are talking to them right now." However, he did not elaborate or specify where the talks were expected to take place.

Amid heightened tensions, the US military reported on Tuesday that a US F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone flying with "unclear intentions" toward the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

Iran's Tasnim news agency said that contact was lost with a drone in international waters, but did not specify the cause.

The US Central Command also reported another incident in the Strait of Hormuz, in which Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) harassed a US-flagged tanker.