Elon Musk's secretive talks with Iran: A potential diplomatic shift
Billionaire and adviser to the US President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, met with Iran's ambassador to the UN on 11th November, reports the "New York Times" daily. The discussion focused on easing tensions between the countries.
The Iranians reported that Musk's conversation with Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani lasted over an hour. The location of the meeting was not disclosed. The Iranian side said it was "positive" and brought "good news."
The meeting was reportedly initiated by Elon Musk himself. One of the Iranian officials conveyed that during the meeting, the ambassador suggested to Musk that the United States lift the sanctions imposed on Iran. There was also a proposal for the billionaire to relocate some of his factories to Tehran.
Trump, Musk, and the new US president's spokesperson have not commented on the reports. In the opinion of the "New York Times", the American journal, "An early direct meeting between a senior Iranian official and Mr. Musk raises the possibility of a change in tone between Tehran and Washington under the Trump administration, despite a charged history between the president-elect and Iran. One of the Iranian officials said that it was Mr. Musk who had requested the meeting and that the ambassador picked the site."
During his first presidential term, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers. He called it a "horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made." The then-administration imposed harsh economic sanctions on income from Iranian oil sales and international banking transactions.
In 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of top Iranian politician Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force. In response to Trump's policy, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, introduced a ban on negotiations with the American administration. Iranian politicians also promised revenge for Soleimani's assassination.
Last week, US federal prosecutors reported that Iran planned to assassinate Trump before the US presidential elections. The "NYT" reminded that Musk, the wealthiest man on Earth, has become one of the most influential figures in Trump's circle. In recent days, he has participated in almost every significant conversation conducted by the president-elect, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump will assume the US presidency at the end of January 2025. Musk is set to oversee the state efficiency department and be responsible for dismantling bureaucracy and cutting expenditures.
