Iran on Saturday "categorically" denied that its United Nations envoy had met with U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk in New York, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported.

In an interview with state news agency IRNA, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was reported as "categorically denying such a meeting" and expressing "surprise at the coverage of the American media in this regard."

The New York Times previously reported that Musk, who is an advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, met with Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani on Monday. It cited anonymous Iranian sources describing the encounter as "positive."

(With input from agencies)