Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reportedly met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations earlier this week, in a move that could have significant implications for US-Iran relations.
The meeting took place on Monday, just one day before former President Donald Trump appointed Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, according to sources who spoke to The New York Times.
The conversation between Musk and the Iranian officials reportedly centered on ways to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.
The meeting was said to have been initiated by Musk himself, and the Iranian ambassador selected the location for the discussion.
While the specifics of the talks remain unclear, experts suggest that this could be a significant development, particularly since direct US-Iran negotiations have been frozen since the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
READ ALSO: Boris Johnson Warns UK May Need to Send Troops to Ukraine if Trump Cuts Support
Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, emphasized the importance of Musk’s role in these discussions, stating, “The Iranians have not engaged with Americans in direct negotiations since before Trump left the nuclear deal, so this could be a very big deal.”
Musk, who is known for his influential role in various global affairs, has recently been involved in diplomatic efforts, including assisting with communication between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump.
The timing of Musk’s meeting with the Iranian ambassador is also notable given the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, which have been exacerbated by Trump’s policies during his presidency.
These include the US’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the killing of Iranian General Qassim Soleimani in 2020, actions that worsened relations.
The coming months will likely be pivotal in determining whether Musk’s involvement can help bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran, particularly with Trump potentially returning to office in the near future.