Washington DC
\nElon Musk, tech billionaire and adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, reportedly met with Iran\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, on Monday, New York Times reported.
\nThe New York Times, citing two Iranian officials, reported that Musk and Iravani\u2019s hour-long meeting, held at a secret location in New York, centred on defusing tensions between Iran and the United States.
\nNeither Musk nor Trump\u2019s transition team has commented on the reported meeting, and Iran\u2019s mission to the United Nations also declined to respond. Biden administration officials at the UN were not informed about the meeting and have not received independent confirmation of its occurrence, a US official told CNN.
\nThe timing of the reported meeting, just after Trump\u2019s electoral victory, has drawn the attention of experts who warn that Trump\u2019s return could revive the \u201cmaximum pressure\u201d campaign.
\nAnalysts note that during Trump\u2019s first term, his administration imposed sanctions that significantly impacted Iran\u2019s economy. Under Trump, US policy included sanctions targeting Iran\u2019s oil exports, financial systems, and extensive support for militant groups across the Middle East.
\nSince Trump left office, Iran has ramped up its uranium enrichment, raised oil exports, increased support to regional militias, and even carried out direct strikes on Israel on two occasions.
\nWith Trump\u2019s impending return to office, the trajectory of US-Iran relations remains uncertain, though some suggest Musk\u2019s involvement may hint at a diplomatic approach within the new administration.
\nMoreover, Musk\u2019s meeting with Iravani has raised questions about his future influence on US foreign policy as a top Trump adviser. Last week, Musk participated in a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he was reportedly thanked by Zelensky for his support in providing Starlink communication services for Ukraine\u2019s war efforts.
\nOn Tuesday, Trump announced Musk\u2019s appointment, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead a new \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency.\u201d The new agency, which Trump says will provide external advice on government operations, is already facing concerns over potential conflicts of interest due to Musk\u2019s significant federal contracts with NASA, the US military, and other agencies.
\nIt remains unclear if the proposed department, which would potentially shift government operations and spending, will garner support even among a Republican-majority Congress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Washington DC Elon Musk, tech billionaire and adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, reportedly met with Iran\u2019s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, on Monday, New York Times reported. The New York Times, citing two Iranian officials, reported that Musk and Iravani\u2019s hour-long meeting, held at a secret location in New York, centred […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":443896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-443872","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n