• Source:JND
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Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman closely allied with US President-elect Donald Trump, met with the Iran ambassador to the United States (US) in a bid to diffuse tensions between Tehran and Washington, The New York Times reported on Thursday, citing two Iranian officials.

The report stated that the meeting between Musk, who vehemently supported Trump during his presidential fight, and Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani was "positive" - a significant step towards ending the hostilities in the Middle East.

This comes days after President-elect Trump appointed Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the newest government arm to cut the coasts and make the American administration better. He will head the DOGE with Indian-origin Republican leader Vivek Ramaswamy.

Secret Meeting Between Musk, Iravani

According to the New York Times report, Musk and Iravani met at a secret location for more than an hour on Monday. However, the details of the meeting were not confirmed either by the US administration or the Iranian embassy.

If confirmed, the meeting could signal that Trump is genuinely considering diplomatic engagement with Iran, rather than opting for the more aggressive stance preferred by many conservatives in his Republican Party and by Israel.

This would further highlight Musk's remarkable influence, as the Tesla and X owner has reportedly been closely involved with Trump, even joining his calls with global leaders.

In his previous term, Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal established under Barack Obama, opting instead for a "maximum pressure" strategy aimed at discouraging other nations from purchasing Iranian oil.

Trump has presented himself as a skilled negotiator and, in his current campaign, has indicated a willingness to pursue diplomacy, despite expressing strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has launched military actions against Iran alongside Israel's conflict with Hamas.