New York Times: Elon Musk and Iran's Ambassador to the UN Met Secretly

The New York Times reported, citing its sources, that Elon Musk, the prominent entrepreneur and senior advisor to the elected President of the United States, met and discussed with Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN. This newspaper reported on Thursday, November 24, based on Iranian officials who requested anonymity, that the meeting took place on Monday, November 21, at an undisclosed location and lasted more than an hour. Two Iranian officials described the discussion's topic as 'how to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States' and characterized the meeting as 'constructive' and 'good news' in their conversation with the New York Times. Elon Musk and Iranian officials have not yet reacted to this report. Steven Chang, communications director for Donald Trump's office, also stated in response to the New York Times that he does not comment on reports regarding private meetings. Musk has been referred to as the most powerful advisor and supporter of Donald Trump in recent times, and according to the New York Times, he has been present in nearly all of Trump's recent interviews. One Iranian official told the New York Times that the meeting on Monday was held at Elon Musk's request, and Amir Saeed Iravani determined the meeting's location. A few days ago, Elon Musk also spoke about the benefits of the United States from the talents of Iranians. In response to a comment from an Iranian-American citizen regarding the elections in the United States and the election of Donald Trump, he wrote: 'America has benefited from the entry of very talented Iranians.' In recent weeks, on one hand, the topic of returning to the 'maximum pressure' policy against Iran has been raised, and on the other hand, Donald Trump has emphasized his easy conditions regarding Iran. On November 15, after voting in Florida, Trump told reporters that he is not looking to 'harm Iran,' but Tehran 'cannot have a nuclear weapon.' He also added that he has 'very easy' conditions regarding Iran and would like Iran to be 'a very successful country.' A few days ago, Brian Hook, the representative of the previous Trump administration on Iran, who is said to still be present in the new administration, emphasized the 'weakening and isolation' of the Islamic Republic. He told CNN that 'Mr. Trump's goal is not to change the regime of the Islamic Republic, as the people of Iran should decide their future,' and the new President of the United States is seeking 'the diplomatic isolation of the Islamic Republic and the weakening of its economy.' According to Hook, this policy aims to incapacitate Iran from financing proxy groups 'that destabilize the region, our Middle Eastern partners, and Israel.' The New York Times in its new report stated that the meeting of a senior Iranian official with Elon Musk likely indicates a change in the tone of Tehran and Washington towards each other in the upcoming Trump administration, despite previous tensions between the two sides. Is Iran sending 'signals' to Trump? Caroline Levitt, spokesperson for Donald Trump's transition team, without commenting on Elon Musk's meeting with Amir Saeed Iravani, stated that American citizens elected Donald Trump because they 'trust him to lead our country and establish peace with strength around the world.' Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, during his first term and imposed heavy sanctions against Tehran. He referred to the JCPOA as 'a highly one-sided agreement' that he believed 'should never have happened.' Trump also ordered the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, also banned any negotiations with Trump in retaliation for these actions, and Iranian officials threatened to take revenge for Soleimani's killing. Last week, a U.S. federal prosecutor accused Iran of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump before the U.S. presidential elections, an accusation that Iran denied.