The New York Times: Former Iranian President Could Have Become an Israeli Puppet, But the Operation Failed

Israeli intelligence agencies have for years attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to use him to bring about a change of regime in Tehran. The intelligence services considered him a potential figure for a transitional period. However, the plan failed.

"Recruiting Ahmadinejad was so important to Israel that the then-head of Mossad, David Barnea, personally traveled to Budapest in 2024 to meet with the former president," the NYT reports.

According to the publication, Israeli operatives met with Ahmadinejad abroad, including in Hungary. They paid him for accommodation and travel. At the end of February, when the war with Iran began, Mossad even evacuated him from custody in Tehran to a secret refuge.

"At the end of February, an Israeli airstrike hit Ahmadinejad's compound. Then, a black Peugeot, driven by Mossad operatives, picked him up and took him to a secret refuge in Iran," the NYT writes.

However, Ahmadinejad, according to sources, was upset by the chaotic operation and "lost faith" in the Israeli plan. He soon left the refuge. On July 6, he appeared at the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

"Ahmadinejad had not been seen in public until last Monday, when he briefly appeared at Khamenei's funeral. He is now under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," the NYT reports.

Tehran has already been investigating Ahmadinejad's ties to Israel. According to sources, the former president has for years harbored ambitions to return to power with the help of foreign forces, and even discussed with his entourage the possibility of recognizing Israel.

"Ahmadinejad concluded that he would not be able to come to power as long as the current system existed. He described himself as a potential reformer," the NYT reports, citing his entourage.

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