Iran Denies Meeting Between UN Ambassador and Elon Musk
Iran's Foreign Ministry has officially rejected reports claiming that Saeed Shiravani, the country's permanent representative to the United Nations, met with billionaire Elon Musk in New York. The meeting, reported by The New York Times, was said to have occurred on Monday with the intention of easing tensions between Iran and the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei expressed surprise at the media reports, stating, "The meeting has been denied."
Details of the Alleged Meeting
According to sources cited by The New York Times, the meeting lasted over an hour and was described as positive. It was reported that Musk initiated the meeting, while the Iranian ambassador selected the location. However, the Trump administration has not confirmed the meeting, with spokesperson Steven Cheung stating, "We don't comment on reports of private meetings that did or didn't occur." Musk himself has not publicly addressed the claims, despite his active presence on social media.
Implications for US-Iran Relations
The alleged meeting has sparked debate within Iran, dividing opinions between hardliners and reformists. The ultra-conservative daily Keyhan criticized the reformist faction for seeking engagement with the West, while the pro-reformist Jomhourie Eslami newspaper welcomed the discussions as a potential new direction for Iran's foreign policy. Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, who assumed office in July, has signaled a desire for rapprochement with the West, although his power in foreign policy is limited by the supreme leader's authority. This context, combined with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, suggests that any thaw in US-Iran relations remains complex and uncertain.
