Golden opportunity: Iranian daily urges Tehran to invite Musk

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., November 19, 2024.

The Iranian daily Etemad, which is close to President Masoud Pezeshkian's government, has urged officials to invite Elon Musk to Tehran, calling the outreach to the billionaire Trump advisor a golden opportunity for the country.

The proposal comes as Iranian officials and many commentators in Tehran advocate for negotiations with President Donald Trump to address differences with Washington and ease sanctions amid deep economic malaise.

In an editorial titled "Iran: The Gateway for Elon Musk to the Middle East," Etemad highlighted Musk’s global influence, describing him as "a world-renowned figure and an extraordinary, golden opportunity." The editorial urged officials to act swiftly, stating, "Let us seize this chance ahead of competitors and invite him to Tehran, to Azadi Stadium." It further remarked, "Just as he envisions carpeting Mars for humanity, we should not hesitate to roll out the carpet for him in Tehran."

This proposal coincides with speculation about Musk’s indirect involvement in the release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was arrested in Iran last month and released in January.

Last week, The New York Times reported that Musk reached out to Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, to facilitate Sala’s freedom—a claim Musk denied on X, writing, "I haven’t had any interaction with Iran. Just recommended support from the US side." Iranian officials have dismissed the reports as "media storytelling and fabrication."

Also in November, The New York Times wrote that Musk and Iravani met in person in New York, which Tehran denied.

Despite the controversy, Etemad framed Musk’s potential visit as a pivotal moment for Iran, asserting, "His arrival in Tehran would attract more attention globally than his journey to Mars. Let us seize this opportunity for Iran and the Middle East." The newspaper argued that Musk’s presence could symbolize a leap forward in technology and artificial intelligence for the region.