Israel sought to recruit ex-president Ahmadinejad for regime change, NYT reports

Israel conducted a years-long effort to recruit former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a spy and potential replacement leader, according to a New York Times report published on July 13, 2026. The operation, which involved secret payments and meetings abroad, culminated in a failed extraction during the U.S.-Israel offensive on Iran in February 2026. Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Source: clarin, infobae

The recruitment plan

Israeli intelligence, led by Mossad chief David Barnea, cultivated Ahmadinejad for several years. Meetings were arranged under the guise of climate conferences at a Hungarian university in Budapest, where Israeli agents posed as academics. Source: elmundoes Israel allegedly covered his travel and lodging expenses. The goal was to install him as leader if the current regime fell. Source: abces The Mossad informed the CIA of the contact. Source: clarin

The extraction attempt

On February 28, 2026, as airstrikes hit Iran, an Israeli attack targeted Ahmadinejad's compound, destroying his armored vehicle and guard building. A black Peugeot driven by Mossad agents then evacuated him to a safe house. Source: clarin, elmundoes However, Ahmadinejad became disillusioned and left the safe house under unclear circumstances. Source: abces The plan failed, and he remained out of public view until appearing at the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei in July 2026. Source: infobae

Fallout

Iran's Revolutionary Guard intelligence discovered the contacts and placed Ahmadinejad under house arrest. Source: infobae The NYT report notes that Ahmadinejad's motivation was primarily to retain power. Source: infobae The operation underscores the lengths Israel was willing to go to for regime change.