Iran successfully sought a meeting with Elon Musk, according to a US offic🦋ial, one in a series of steps that appeared aimed at easing tensions with Presid𒊎ent-elect Donald Trump.
Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani met with Musk — a Trump ally named this week to advise his adminis𝔍tration on ways to cut the federal government — on Monday in New York, according to a US official briefed on the meeting by a foreign🏅 colleague.
The official said he had been informed that the discussion covered a variety of topics, most notably Iran's nu൩clear program, its support for anti-Israel🔜 groups throughout the Middle East and prospects for improved relations with the United States.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a non-US governmental meetin🌼g, said no immediate decisions were taken by either side. The official said the Iranians sought the meeting with Musk, the world's richest man, and that it did not take place at the Iranian mission to the UN.
The Trump transition team wo🌳uld not confirm or deny the meeting, which was first reported by The New York Times🎐.
“The American people re-elected President Trump because they trust him to lead our country and restore peace through strength around the world. Wheꦦn he returns to the White House, he will take the necessary action to do just that,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, said in a statement.
Iran's UN mission declined to comment.
Iran's outreach comes as Trump has been announcing picks for key foreign policy posts — including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state an🎀d Rep. Mike Waltz for national security adviser — who are expected to be tough on Iran.
Intelligence officials have said Iran opposed Trump's second term, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. Trump's administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, ওan act that prompted Iran's leaders to vow revenge.
The Justice Department this month revealed an Iranian murder-for-hire plot to kill Trump, charging a man who said he had been tasked by an Iranian government official ♑in September with planning Trump's assassination. The Iranian foreign minis🦩try rejected the report.
The plot was part of what federal officials have described as ongoing efforts by Ira🐟n to target US government officials, including Trump, on US soil. Last summer, for instance, the Justice Department charged a Pakistani man with ties to Iran in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Ame⛎rican officials.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed US officials, that Iran told the Biden administration in a written message delivered on October 14 that it would not try to kill Trump. It was a respo🎃nse to an earlier warning from the US that an attempt on Trump's life would be considered an act of war, the Journal reported.
In response to inquiries about reports in the Journal and other outlets, Iran's UN m𝐆🐻ission said it does not issue public statements about “official messages exchanged between the two countries.”
"The Islไamic Republic of Iran has long declared its commitment to pursuing Martyr Soleimani's assassination through legal and judicial avenues, while adhering fully to the recognized principles of international law,” its statement said.
While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all matters of state, has repeatedly expressed his own disgust with Tru🧔mp, Iran's new reformist president has kept the doo𓂃r open to talks with Trump to seek relief from international sanctions.
The Trump transition team did not respond t🎐o messages seeking comm𒆙ent on the Iranian mission's statement Friday.
