Two anonymous Iranian representatives tell the newspaper that the one-hour meeting between Musk and Amir Saeid Iravani dealt with ways to reduce tensions between the USA and Iran. The meeting was positive and implied "good news", according to the Iranian sources.
The Trump administration does not comment on whether a meeting took place, nor does Elon Musk.
A source in the Iranian Foreign Ministry tells NYT that the Iranian ambassador suggested that Musk should try to obtain an exemption from the US sanctions against Iran and move business operations to Iran.
Pulled out
During his first term in the White House, Trump ensured that the USA pulled out of the agreement with the international community on Iran's nuclear technology program, an agreement aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Trump administration imposed economic sanctions against Iran and in 2020, Trump ordered the killing of a high-ranking Iranian general.
The Iranian leadership, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the helm, prohibited negotiations with the USA and vowed to avenge the general's death. But now, an opening is being openly discussed in Iran's top echelons.
Anything is possible
Essentially, anything is possible when it comes to Trump, says Ali Vaez, responsible for Iran at the International Crisis Group.
He seems to be interested in a deal with Iran, he says, but adds that some of the people surrounding Trump might rather want to increase pressure on Iran.
