Politics
Israel Sought Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad as Post-Regime Leader, Reports Claim
July 13, 2026 at 08:05 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 23 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
كاذبة وهوليوودية.. أحمدي نجاد يرد على مزاعم اتصاله بالموساد
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Israel courted Iran’s former hardline president for post-regime role, reports claim
(opens the publisher’s site)
MAMasrawy
من عدو إلى مرشح للحكم.. تقرير يكشف خطة إسرائيل لتجهيز أحمدي نجاد لقيادة إيران
(opens the publisher’s site)Mossad recruited Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a post-theocratic Iran, but he was taken into IRGC custody after the plan unraveled.
- Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Budapest in 2024 to meet Ahmadinejad, according to reports from the New York Times and Haaretz.
- Israeli officials financed Ahmadinejad's housing and travel, and Mossad operatives met him multiple times, the New York Times reported.
- Ahmadinejad was extracted from Tehran by Mossad after an Israeli strike in February 2026 but later left the safe house and was captured by the IRGC, Iranian officials told the newspaper.
- Netanyahu overrode internal opposition from security officials to proceed with the operation, which Israel called "Operation Puss in Boots," the reports said.