&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Trump, Modi...and Musk? Report reveals surprise third voice on key Iran war call—what was he doing there?")
When US President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by phone Tuesday (Mar 24) about the escalating crisis in the Middle East, there was a third voice on the line — one that had no obvious business being there. According to a NYT report citing two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, X CEO, Trump's former DOGE chief, Elon Musk, joined the call with the two world leaders. But why was the businessman who no longer holds a government position part of the call? Here's what we know.
What did White House say about the alleged Modi-Trump-Musk call?
When asked about Musk's alleged presence in the call, House press secretary Karoline Leavitt evaded and instead only said, “President Trump has a great relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and this was a productive conversation”.
The conflicts of interest are hard to miss
Musk's companies have received significant investment from sovereign wealth funds in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, two countries involved in the Iran war's regional fallout. Musk has long pursued a larger commercial footprint in India, where Tesla has struggled against import tariffs, and Starlink is still awaiting regulatory clearance to operate. And SpaceX has been eyeing an IPO later this year — one that a worsening global economy could quickly derail.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
What was the call about?
The call, officials said, centred on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's stranglehold over it. The halt to shipping through the strait has sent energy prices surging worldwide. Some Asian nations are already edging toward fuel rationing.
"Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world," PM Modi wrote on social media afterwards. "We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability," he added.
Trump-Musk bromance back on?
Musk's presence on the call is notable for another reason: it suggests the world's richest man is back in Trump's good graces. The two had a falling out last summer after Musk left his role overseeing DOGE, the cost-cutting operation that put him at odds with several senior Trump aides. They appear to have quietly patched things up since.
On X, which Musk owns, he's been unusually restrained about the Iran war. Last week, he responded to a post about global dependence on the Strait of Hormuz with: "We got lazy." Days later, he shared a meme suggesting the Strait disruptions would slow AI growth and broader economic progress.
Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.
