New York Times Reports Citing Iranian Officials
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has been sitting in during calls between President-elect Donald Trump and foreign leaders, influencing diplomacy, is reported to have recently met with a high-ranking Iranian official.
On the 14th (local time), the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing two Iranian officials, that Musk met with Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, in New York on the 11th. The officials described the conversation as discussions aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the United States, stating that the meeting lasted over an hour in a secret location and called it "positive and good news."
At the meeting, Ambassador Iravani reportedly mentioned U.S. sanctions against Iran and suggested that Musk seek an exemption from the Treasury Department to transfer part of his business to Iran. One official added that the meeting was arranged at Musk's request and that the location was chosen by Ambassador Iravani.
Until now, relations between Iran and President-elect Trump have been strained. During his first term in 2018, Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal (JCPOA ? Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) negotiated under the previous Barack Obama administration and pursued a "maximum pressure" policy against Iran. The conflict deepened further in 2020 when Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed following an airstrike ordered by Trump. Recently, federal intelligence agencies released investigations alleging that Iran plotted to assassinate Trump during the U.S. election campaign.
However, experts believe that with the election concluded, both Iran and President-elect Trump have left the door open for diplomacy. Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the International Crisis Group (ICG), a U.S. think tank, said, "Everything is possible for Trump," adding, "He seems interested in making a deal with Iran." The NYT evaluated the meeting between Musk and Ambassador Iravani as sparking speculation that the tone between Iran and the U.S. could change under a second Trump administration.
This meeting draws attention as it suggests that Musk, who has been solidifying his position by showcasing a "bromance" with President-elect Trump, may influence the next administration's foreign policy. Previously, Musk was noted by the media for sitting in when Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the election victory.
The NYT, citing Iuliia Mendel, former spokesperson for President Zelensky, reported that Musk and Zelensky had at least two private calls. Bloomberg also reported that Musk participated in a recent phone call between President-elect Trump and Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i?. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that Musk has been regularly communicating with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022, though Russia has dismissed this as fake news.
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