Elon Musk, a detailed adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday in New York in a session that two Iranian officers described as a dialogue of the way to defuse tensions between Iran and the US.
The Iranians stated the assembly between Musk and Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani lasted greater than an hour and was held at a secret location. The Iranians, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate coverage publicly, described the assembly as “optimistic” and “excellent news.”
Requested about whether or not there was such a session, Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director, stated, “We don’t touch upon studies of personal conferences that did or didn’t happen.” Musk didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Karoline Leavitt, the transition spokesperson for the incoming Trump-Vance administration, stated in an announcement: “The American individuals reelected President Trump as a result of they belief him to steer our nation and restore peace by means of power around the globe. When he returns to the White Home, he’ll take the mandatory motion to do exactly that.”
Musk has emerged as probably the most highly effective personal citizen within the Trump transition, and has sat in on practically each job interview. Throughout a name final week with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president-elect handed the cellphone to the billionaire. Musk has performed a key function in offering communications functionality to Ukraine within the struggle with Russia.
An early direct assembly between a senior Iranian official and Musk raises the potential of a change in tone between Tehran and Washington below the Trump administration, regardless of a charged historical past between the president-elect and Iran. One of many Iranian officers stated that it was Musk who had requested the assembly and that the ambassador picked the location.
Throughout his first time period Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers, calling it “a horrible one-sided deal that ought to have by no means, ever been made,” and imposed robust financial sanctions on Iranian oil revenues and worldwide banking transactions. He additionally ordered the assassination of a high Iranian normal, Qassem Soleimani, in Iraq in 2020.
In response, Iran’s supreme chief banned any negotiations with the Trump administration and Iranian officers vowed to avenge Soleimani’s killing. Federal prosecutors stated in a courtroom submitting final week that Iran had plotted to assassinate Trump earlier than the election.
However within the wake of Trump’s election final week, Iran has been brazenly debating whether or not it could now attain a brand new and extra lasting take care of the US. Many members of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s new authorities favor negotiating, arguing that Trump likes to make offers and that there could also be a possibility to get the sanctions lifted.
Many within the conservative faction in Iran oppose engagement with Trump, and any negotiations — or deal — have to be permitted by the supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump has been an avid supporter of Israel, which has been waging struggle on the Iranian-backed militias Hamas and Hezbollah for the reason that Oct. 7 assault final yr.
On Thursday, in a put up on the social platform X, Iran’s international minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated: “Variations might be resolved by means of cooperation and dialogue. We agreed to proceed with braveness and goodwill. Iran has by no means left the negotiation desk on its peaceable nuclear program.”
Araghchi made the feedback following a gathering in Tehran with Rafael Grossi, the top of U.N.’s atomic watchdog
Analysts stated that for all of the historical past of unhealthy blood with Trump, the Iranians appeared to wish to preserve the door to diplomacy open. Trump, too, seems , they stated.
“Total, every thing is feasible with Trump,” stated Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the Worldwide Disaster Group. “He seems to be excited by a take care of Iran.” However some advisers, he stated, might favor different approaches, amongst them rising the stress on Iran
The 2 Iranian officers stated that the assembly with Musk supplied a workaround for Iran, permitting it to keep away from sitting instantly with an American official. Musk will, nonetheless, have an official function quickly. He has been named because the co-director of a brand new authorities effectivity company.
One Iranian International Ministry official stated that Iravani instructed Musk through the assembly that he ought to receive sanctions exemptions from the Treasury and convey a few of his companies to Tehran.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations stated it could not publicly touch upon the assembly.
