The Islamic Republic on Saturday denied reports of a meeting between Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeed Irvani and billionaire Elon Musk in New York, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.
A spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said that "we categorically reject the reports about the meeting between the Iranian ambassador to the UN and Elon Musk in New York," and expressed surprise at the extensive exposure the report received in the American media.
The New York Times reported that the billionaire met last week with Iran's ambassador to the UN. Iranian sources reported to the newspaper that the meeting was intended to "discuss ways to ease tensions" between Iran and the United States.
The officials said the meeting between Musk and Ambassador Amir Saeed Irvani lasted more than an hour and was held in a "secret location," according to the report. The Iranians, quoted in the article on condition of anonymity, described the meeting as "positive" and "good news."
Asked if there had been such a meeting, Trump's communications team manager replied, "We don't comment on reports of private meetings that have or have not occurred." Elon Musk chose not to comment on the report.