Iran “categorically” denied Saturday’s alleged meeting between his ambassador to the UN and the tycoon Elon Muskadviser to the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, who according to the newspaper The New York Times took place this week for ease strained bilateral relations between the two countries.
“The meeting between Elon Musk and Iran’s permanent representative in New York is categorically denied,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said in statements to the IRNA agency.
The newspaper The New York Times reported on Thursday that Musk, who will lead the new Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) in the next Trump administration, met with Iran’s ambassador to the UN on Monday in an effort to defuse relations between the United States and Iran.
Citing two Iranian officials, who remained anonymous, the American newspaper detailed that the a secret meeting lasting more than an hour took place “positive”. One of these sources assured that It was Musk who requested the meeting and that the Iranian diplomat chose the location.
The American side has not yet commented but in Iran it provoked a debate between the hardest sectors and the reformists.
Controversy in Iran
The ultraconservative newspaper Keyhanclose to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in his column entitled “secret meeting with Trump representative, naivety or betrayal!?“, he attacked the sector of reforms which calls for the opening of relations with the West, including the United States.
“Reform seekers want Iran to come to the trial table as a defendant,” denounced the newspaper’s editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari in his column.
On the other hand, the newspaper Jomhourie Eslami (Islamic Republic, in Spanish), close to the reformists, welcomed the talks with Washington.
“They can be considered the beginning of a new path in the foreign policy of our country,” reads an article in the newspaper, which emphasizes that the Iranian government has given signs of willingness to reduce tensions with the States -United.
“There is no doubt that “Diplomacy is stronger and more effective than any other weapon if it is calculated, intelligent and planned. »the media pointed out.
Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian came to power in July with a message of rapprochement with the Westbut events such as the war in Gaza and the clashes with Israel gave him few opportunities.
In addition, The president has limited power over foreign policy in Iranwhere the figure of the supreme leader acts as head of state with vast powers.
Since Trump’s election as president of the United States on November 5, Iranian authorities have attempted to convince the Republican to no longer exert maximum pressure on Iran, which sank the economy of the Persian country.
“Try the ‘Ultimate Wisdom’, for the good of all,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi advised last Tuesday.
Iran’s most moderate sectors called on Pezeshkian to apply a pragmatic policy against Trump Don’t miss this opportunity to change relations with the United States, frozen since the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran, after the Islamic revolution of 1979.
