Iran denies its UN envoy met with Elon Musk
Tehran’s FM says ‘media’s fabrication’ of meeting is ‘testing waters’ for future possibilities, says Iran is still waiting for new Trump administration to ‘clarify its policies’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday denied a reported meeting between Tehran’s United Nations envoy and US billionaire Elon Musk, in an interview with state TV.
“This (reported meeting) was a fabricated story by American media, and the motives behind this can also be speculated,” Araqchi said, reiterating an earlier denial by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
The New York Times reported on Thursday that Musk, who has been serving as an adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday.
“In my opinion, the American media’s fabrication about a meeting between Elon Musk and Iran’s representative is a form of testing the waters to see if the ground for such a move exists,” Araqchi said.
“We are still waiting for the new US administration to clarify its policies, and based on that, we will adjust our own policies. Right now, it is neither the time for such meetings nor is it appropriate,” Araqchi said.
“There was no permission from the leadership for such a meeting,” Araqchi said, referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state.
Before Iran’s denial, a US official speaking to The Associated Press said he had been informed that the meeting took place and that the discussion covered a variety of topics, most notably Iran’s nuclear program, its support for anti-Israel groups throughout the Middle East and prospects for improved relations with the United States.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a non-US governmental meeting, said no immediate decisions were taken by either side.
The official said the Iranians sought the meeting with Musk, the world’s richest man, and that it did not take place at the Iranian mission to the UN.
The Times also added that Iran’s ambassador urged Musk in their meeting to seek US sanctions exemptions and conduct business in Tehran, citing an Iranian Foreign Ministry official.
Musk has become a close advisor of former president and current President-elect Donald Trump and has been a near-constant presence at Trump’s side throughout and after the election process, reportedly joining him on telephone calls with world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Recently, Trump put Musk and another wealthy entrepreneur, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, in charge of a new “Department of Government Efficiency” tasked with overhauling the federal bureaucracy.
The new initiative has raised questions about conflicts of interest given the extensive interactions between Musk’s businesses and the government, and indicates the extraordinary influence of Musk over Trump and his incoming administration.
