Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, New York Times reports

WASHINGTON: Billionaire Elon Musk, who is an adviser to US President-elect Donald Trump, met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, the New York Times reported on Friday.

Citing two Iranian officials, the newspaper reported that the meeting was a discussion of how to defuse tensions between Iran and the United States.

Biden administration officials at the UN were not notified that the meeting was happening and still have not received independent confirmation it took place, a US official said.

The reported meeting comes as experts speculate that the next four years could pose a significant test for Iran. Tehran under Trump’s scrutiny could lead to a return of the “maximum pressure” campaign he imposed during his last presidency, which increased Iran’s isolation and crippled its economy, experts say.

Since Trump left office in 2020, Iran has ramped up enrichment of uranium, increased its oil exports, stepped up support for regional militant groups, and has set a precedent by striking Israel in a direct attack twice.

The billionaire’s reported conversation with the Iranian official raises questions about what his influence might look like in the incoming administration, especially when it comes to US foreign policy.