Elon Musk, the technology billionaire with close ties to US President-elect Donald Trump, held discussions with Iran’s UN Ambassador to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Anonymous Iranian sources described the meeting between the world’s wealthiest individual and Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani as “positive,” according to The New York Times on Thursday.
The newspaper reported that they convened for over an hour at an undisclosed location on Monday. The Trump transition team and Iran’s UN mission did not immediately verify the meeting, with the Iranian mission declining to comment.
If verified, this meeting could suggest Trump’s genuine interest in diplomatic relations with Iran, rather than pursuing the stricter approach preferred by many Republican conservatives and Israel.
It also demonstrates the considerable influence of Musk, who owns Tesla and X, and has frequently accompanied Trump, reportedly participating in his telephone conversations with international leaders.
During his previous presidency, Trump abandoned the Iranian nuclear agreement established under Barack Obama’s administration, implementing a “maximum pressure” strategy that included persuading other nations to boycott Iranian oil.
Trump, who portrays himself as an accomplished negotiator, has expressed openness to diplomacy during his current campaign, despite his declared support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has authorised military actions against Iran alongside Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
On Thursday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, known as a moderate within the clerical establishment, told the visiting UN nuclear watchdog chief that Tehran aimed to resolve concerns about its “peaceful” nuclear programme.
According to the Times, citing an Iranian foreign ministry official, Iran’s ambassador also requested Musk to pursue US sanctions exemptions and establish business operations in Tehran.
