Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, reportedly held a private meeting with Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani in New York earlier this week, according to The New York Times.
Citing two Iranian officials, the report claims the meeting, held at a secret location, lasted over an hour and focused on reducing tensions between the US and Iran. Neither Musk nor Trump’s transition team has commented on the reports, while Iran’s UN mission declined to address the matter. Biden administration officials stated they were not notified about the meeting and have yet to independently confirm its occurrence.
US-Iran Relations in Focus as Trump Prepares for Presidency
The meeting comes at a critical juncture for US-Iran relations, as experts predict Trump’s return to office could bring back the “maximum pressure” campaign that defined his earlier administration. This strategy, which included severe sanctions, left Iran’s economy crippled and isolated the nation on the global stage.
Since Trump’s departure in 2020, Tehran has escalated uranium enrichment, increased oil exports, supported regional militant groups, and conducted direct strikes on Israel, setting the stage for heightened tensions during Trump’s upcoming term.
Musk’s Growing Role in US Foreign Policy?
Musk’s engagement with Iran’s envoy raises questions about his potential influence in Trump’s administration, especially in matters of foreign policy. This is not the first time Musk has been linked to high-level geopolitical discussions. Just last week, he reportedly joined Trump on a call.