"Iran and Hostage Exchange Negotiations"... Musk, a Diplomatic Pro?

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has been flaunting his external influence backed by US President-elect Donald Trump, is reported to have recently led the release of hostages through diplomatic negotiations with Iran.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 15th (local time), citing sources, that "Musk is known to have intervened to help release an Italian detained in Iran," and "in return, an Iranian wanted by the US was also released from detention in Italy."

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is attending a Republican House meeting held at a hotel in Washington D.C. on November 13 last year (local time). Photo by Reuters-Yonhap News

The media stated, "In December last year, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested in Iran," and "after news emerged that Iran, Italy, and the US were negotiating a prisoner exchange, her boyfriend Daniele Reineri asked Musk for help through an intermediary."

According to two Iranian officials, Musk contacted Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN, and senior local diplomats to request the journalist's release. The journalist was freed on the 8th, and in exchange, the Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, who was detained in Italy at the US's request, was also released three days later. The engineer is accused of providing drone technology to an Iranian-backed militia that attacked a US military base in Jordan, resulting in three deaths.

Ambassador Iravani, who is believed to have cooperated with the release request, is also the figure reported to have secretly met with Musk a month before the Italian journalist's arrest in Iran. At that time, Iravani reportedly mentioned US sanctions against Iran and suggested that Musk obtain a sanctions exemption from the Treasury Department to relocate part of his business to Iran. One official explained that the meeting was arranged at Musk's request and lasted over an hour at a secret location in New York.

However, the Italian and US governments appear to distance themselves from suspicions of Musk's involvement. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said at a press conference last week that the prisoner exchange was "due to the complex diplomatic triangle involving Iran and the US," and "she does not know what role Musk played." A senior official from the Biden administration stated that the US government was neither notified in advance nor approved the deal. John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson, also dismissed the deal as "entirely Italy's decision from start to finish."

Jorgea Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

This news draws attention as it emerged while Musk is demonstrating his external influence as President-elect Trump's 'first buddy.' Notably, Prime Minister Meloni is close to Musk, and the two met on the 4th at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Recently, there were reports that SpaceX, Musk's space company, is pursuing a military satellite communication contract with the Italian Ministry of Defense.

NYT cited Iuliia Mendel, former spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that Musk and President Zelensky had at least two private phone calls since the November election. Bloomberg also reported that Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? participated in a phone call with President-elect Trump recently, during which Musk was also involved.