India denies Elon Musk joined Modi-Trump call on Iran crisis

India has categorically refuted erstwhile reports claiming that tech multibillionaire Elon Musk was a participant during a telephone betwixt premier curate Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump astir nan warfare successful Iran.

Last week, The New York Times reported, citing 2 US officials, that nan Tesla titan joined a telephone telephone ⁠between Mr Trump and Mr Modi discussing nan evolving situation successful nan Middle East, and nan Iranian military’s power of nan Strait of Hormuz.

The 24 March telephone came a time aft Mr Trump paused planned strikes connected Iran, and arsenic some India and nan US stressed nan request to support nan Strait of Hormuz open.

India has been 1 of nan worst-affected Asian countries by nan near-complete closure of nan Strait of Hormuz, owed to its dense dependence connected lipid imports from nan Gulf.

“Ensuring that nan Strait of Hormuz remains open, unafraid and accessible is basal for nan full world,” Mr Modi posted connected X pursuing nan telephone pinch nan US president.

The NYT study connected Friday sparked disapproval from India’s starring guidance Congress party, which raised questions astir transparency and protocol during a high-level negotiated exchange.

It hinted that nan world’s richest man seemed to beryllium “back connected amended terms” pinch nan US president, though it wasn’t clear why he was connected nan telephone aliases whether he spoke.

The Tesla leader and SpaceX main has looked to India arsenic a imaginable lucrative marketplace for his automotive and outer net work ventures.

Mr Musk’s Starlink net supplier is awaiting last clearances to run successful India.

“Why was a businessman coming erstwhile 2 nationalist leaders were discussing a world crisis? What domiciled did Elon Musk play successful this conversation? Was this genuinely astir nan West Asia crisis, aliases was location different ‘business’ agenda?” nan Congress statement posted connected X.

“Trump said to leaders of different countries during nan war, but nary businessman was connected immoderate of those calls. Why did this hap only pinch Modi?” it asked.

Now, nan Indian outer affairs ministry has denied reports that Musk joined nan Tuesday telephone betwixt Mr Modi and Mr Trump.

“We person seen nan story. The telephone speech connected 24 March was betwixt Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said successful a statement.

“As has been stated earlier, it provided nan opportunity for speech of views connected nan business successful West Asia,” Mr Jaiswal said.

But nan Indian ministry’s connection stopped short of denying that Mr Musk was physically coming while nan 2 heads of authorities were conversing.

Neither nan White House nor Mr Musk has made immoderate explanation connected nan report.

The Independent has reached retired to India’s outer affairs ministry for comments.