In a geopolitical development raising many questions about the growing role played by prominent business figures in shaping contemporary international politics, media reports revealed that American billionaire Elon Musk was on the line during a crucial phone call on Tuesday between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core focus of this call was discussing the repercussions of the ongoing war in Iran and the escalating crisis gripping the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This striking disclosure, reported by The New York Times citing knowledgeable US officials, highlights the phenomenon of a private citizen holding no government position participating in a wartime diplomatic call between the presidents of two major nations. This event adds a new chapter to a series of unusual interventions by Musk in sensitive government and military affairs, which are not limited to this event alone but extend to his joining Trump’s post-2024 election call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as his attendance at a Pentagon planning briefing on war plans regarding China that drew widespread scrutiny last year.
Call details and the Strait of Hormuz crisis
The phone call on March 24, the first between Trump and Modi since US and Israeli forces began launching coordinated military strikes on Iranian territory on February 28, focused on the urgent necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for international navigation at a time when the armed conflict has entered its fourth week. In this delicate context, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed in official statements that the leaders “discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.” Indian Prime Minister Modi quickly followed up the call with a post on the social media platform X stating: “India supports de-escalation and the restoration of peace as soon as possible. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and accessible is essential for the entire world.”
The raging war has brought commercial shipping operations through this vital strait—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas production passes—to a near-complete standstill, triggering a global energy crisis that the International Energy Agency described as the largest sudden oil supply disruption ever. India, considered one of the largest emerging economies and importing about 90 percent of its energy consumption needs, was among the countries hardest hit by this choking crisis. Modi told the Indian parliament last Monday that the current crisis has imposed “unprecedented challenges” on the country’s energy security. This sensitive call came just one day after President Trump announced a 5-day temporary pause in planned military strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, adding another layer of complexity to the global geopolitical and economic landscape.
Musk’s commercial interests and their overlap with politics
Although official statements from the White House and Indian government officials did not mention Elon Musk’s name in official readouts of the call summary, and it remains unclear whether he actually spoke during the conversation or why he was included in the first place, his sprawling and wide-ranging commercial interests provide a plausible and justified context for his presence in such high-level dialogues. Starlink, the satellite internet service belonging to Musk’s pioneering company SpaceX, secured a long-awaited commercial operating license in India over the past year. This breakthrough came after years of regulatory delays and complex negotiations, following major strategic deals concluded with telecommunications giants Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.
In the Arabian Gulf region, the Starlink network expanded rapidly and significantly amid the ongoing regional conflict, with its services successfully launched in countries such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, the network’s terminal dishes witnessed a skyrocketing rise in black market prices, reaching astronomical figures of $4,000 USD in Iran. This insane surge in demand comes as the ruling Iranian regime imposes a severe and sweeping blackout on local internet networks to control the flow of information, prompting it to launch security campaigns confiscating hundreds of satellite receivers. This complex web of commercial and technological interests makes Musk’s technologies an integral part of vital infrastructure in conflict zones.
A recurring pattern raising questions about modern diplomacy
Elon Musk’s silent or active presence on this phone call reflects a growing and controversial pattern of his ongoing entanglement behind the scenes of sensitive global diplomacy. In November 2024, in a move that surprised many, Trump handed him the phone during an official congratulatory call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This unprecedented action sparked concern and unease among several senior diplomatic officials, who clearly pointed out that Musk holds no official government position justifying his briefing on world leaders’ conversations, while conversely possessing vast commercial and strategic interests in Ukraine—specifically through providing the Starlink satellite communications network upon which Ukrainian military forces critically depend for their field operations.
In early 2025, this trajectory was reinforced when Indian Prime Minister Modi held a private, closed-door meeting with Musk in the US capital, Washington, before Modi headed to officially meet Trump. This chronological sequence of events in itself raised serious and profound questions about the technological billionaire’s growing diplomatic footprint and the extent of his influence on world leaders’ decisions. At the time, Trump stated in a press interview that he “did not know” why the two men met, but speculated that Musk “wants to do business in India.” The repetition of these incidents undeniably indicates a fundamental shift in how international relations are conducted, with influential technology and finance figures now playing pivotal roles once reserved for diplomats and government officials, opening the door wide to legal and ethical debates over the boundary lines between private interest ambitions and the national security policies of major powers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elon Musk’s role in the Trump-Modi call?
Elon Musk was on the line during a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the repercussions of the war in Iran, reflecting his growing diplomatic influence despite holding no government position.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz central to these talks?
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass. The ongoing war has brought commercial shipping traffic to a near halt, causing a choking energy crisis that has directly affected major import-dependent economies like India.
What commercial interests connect Musk to India and the Middle East?
Musk’s Starlink network holds a commercial operating license in India following deals with major local companies. The network’s services have also expanded in the Gulf region amid conflicts, and the value of its equipment surged on the black market in Iran due to government internet bans.
