Iran denies reported meeting between envoy, Musk

Denial comes in a televised interview following New York Times publication claiming two men met earlier this week

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, has strongly denied a report claiming that Tehran's United Nations ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, held a meeting with US billionaire Elon Musk.

The denial came in a televised interview on Saturday, following an article published by The New York Times that claimed the two men had met earlier this week in a bid to ease tensions between Iran and the United States.

Araqchi dismissed the reports as "fabricated," asserting that such a meeting had never occurred.

He called it a test by American media to "see if the ground for such a move exists," and reiterated Iran's stance that no such discussion had been authorized.

The Foreign Minister made it clear that Iran's leadership, particularly Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not granted permission for any talks with Musk.

Background on tensions and potential diplomacy

The controversy surrounding the reported meeting highlights the ongoing tension between the US and Iran, which has been in a state of diplomatic rupture since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The US and Iran had once been close allies, but relations broke down following the fall of the Shah and the subsequent hostage crisis, with formal diplomatic ties severed.

In recent years, US-Iran relations have been defined by the 2015 nuclear deal, which was intended to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.

However, in 2018, then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement, re-imposing severe sanctions on Iran.

This led to a period of escalating tensions, with both sides engaging in hostile rhetoric and military confrontations in the region.

Under Trump’s administration, the US adopted a policy of “maximum pressure,” aimed at forcing Iran into submission through economic sanctions.

Despite this, Trump has previously positioned himself as a dealmaker and has expressed a willingness to engage in diplomacy with Iran in his current campaign for a second term.

Role of Elon Musk

Musk’s reported connection to the meeting is noteworthy due to his close ties to the incoming US president. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of the social media platform X, has been an influential figure in Trump’s orbit.

He has reportedly participated in discussions with world leaders on behalf of the US president-elect.

The possibility of Musk serving as an intermediary in US-Iran talks has sparked considerable attention, given his high-profile connections and public role in the tech industry.

Despite the claims of the New York Times, the meeting has not been confirmed by either Musk's representatives or Iran’s mission to the United Nations.

The Iranian mission declined to comment on the story, while Musk’s office has not issued a statement.

Iran's Stance on the Nuclear Deal

The potential meeting came at a sensitive time for Iran's nuclear program.

Araqchi also addressed ongoing issues with the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear activities and its refusal to fully cooperate with the IAEA’s investigation into uranium traces found at undeclared sites.

Iran has stated that it is prepared for either confrontation or cooperation with the IAEA, emphasizing the importance of its nuclear ambitions.

Iran’s position on the 2015 nuclear deal has also evolved. While it once viewed the agreement as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, Araqchi noted that the deal no longer holds the same value for Tehran.

He emphasized that any future negotiations would need to result in a “feasible agreement,” and that the current focus would be on securing new terms that are more favorable for Iran.

The reported meeting between Elon Musk and Iran’s ambassador remains unconfirmed, but it has underscored the complexities of US-Iran diplomacy.

While the US has maintained a harsh stance on Iran under both the Trump and Biden administrations, the possibility of future talks remains an open question.

For now, Iran continues to emphasize the importance of direct engagement with the US and a clearer understanding of Washington’s future policies.