Elon Musk is said to have had a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations

Elon Musk, the richest individual globally and a close associate of President-elect Donald Trump, reportedly met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, according to a report by the New York Times, which cited two Iranian officials.

The discussion between Musk and Iran’s envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, took place at a confidential location in New York and extended for over an hour. The New York Times indicated that the conversation primarily revolved around strategies to alleviate tensions between the two nations, as described by the Iranian officials.

CNN is attempting to obtain comments from Elon Musk and Trump’s transition team. Meanwhile, Iran’s UN mission has chosen not to provide any remarks.

Officials from the Biden administration at the UN were not informed about the meeting and have yet to receive independent verification of its occurrence, as stated by a US official to CNN.

This reported meeting arises amid speculation that the upcoming four years could present a considerable challenge for Iran. Experts suggest that under Trump’s scrutiny, Tehran may face a revival of the “maximum pressure” campaign he enacted during his previous presidency, which significantly heightened Iran’s isolation and severely impacted its economy.

Since Trump’s departure from office in 2020, Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment, boosted oil exports, intensified support for regional militant factions, and has set a concerning precedent by directly attacking Israel on two occasions.

The conversation reportedly held between the billionaire and the Iranian official prompts speculation regarding the potential impact of his influence in the forthcoming administration, particularly in relation to US foreign policy.

Just a week ago, following the presidential election, Musk participated in a call with former President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as reported by two sources. During the call, which was conducted on speakerphone, Zelensky expressed gratitude to Musk for his assistance in providing communication support via Starlink amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

On Tuesday, Trump announced that Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, will head a newly established “Department of Government Efficiency” in his anticipated second term. Musk, who serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has received substantial federal contracts from agencies such as NASA and the military, raising immediate concerns regarding possible conflicts of interest.

The operational framework of this department, which Trump indicated would “offer advice and guidance from outside of Government,” remains unclear. Additionally, it is uncertain whether a Congress entirely controlled by Republicans would be inclined to endorse such a significant restructuring of government spending and operations.