Iran’s Foreign Ministry has vehemently denied reports of a meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani. A ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, dismissed the reports as “categorically false” in an interview with the state news agency IRNA on Saturday.
The New York Times had earlier reported, citing unnamed Iranian sources, that Musk and Iravani had met to discuss easing tensions between the US and Iran. The meeting was reportedly initiated by Musk, with the venue chosen by the Iranian ambassador. Iranian media outlets aligned with the reformist camp had also described the meeting in positive terms before Baghaei’s strong rebuttal.
According to the AP, a US official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the discussions between Musk and the Iranian envoy included topics like Iran’s nuclear program, its support for anti-Israel groups, and the potential for improved US-Iran relations. However, the official emphasized that no immediate decisions were made, and the meeting did not occur at the Iranian mission to the UN.
Despite these reports, the Iranian government remains firm in its denial, stating that the coverage of the alleged meeting has been “surprising” and unfounded.