3 sources·Started 14d ago·Updated 13d ago

Israel courted Iran's Ahmadinejad for post-regime role, reports claim

Mahmoud AhmadinejadIsraelMossadDavid BarneaThe New York TimesHaaretzIranIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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TGDN

Coverage

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Recent reports from The New York Times and Haaretz allege that Israel attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a new government after the Islamic Republic. The effort reportedly began in 2022, involved Mossad chief David Barnea personally meeting Ahmadinejad in Budapest, and included payments for housing and travel. Source: The Guardian

The Alleged Plot

According to the reports, Israeli officials viewed the ultraconservative ex-president as a potential figurehead for a post-Islamic regime, with contacts intensifying during the war and even involving a climate conference at Hungary's Ludovika University. Source: DW News
Barnea reportedly skipped a security consultation with Prime Minister Netanyahu to focus on the recruitment, and the Mossad informed the CIA about the contact. Source: The Guardian

Ahmadinejad's Fate

Ahmadinejad disappeared after an Israeli strike near his home on February 28, 2026, but later appeared at Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral. Source: The Guardian
The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad is now in IRGC custody, while his office denies any collaboration, calling the claims "absurd" and "completely false." Source: DW News

Disagreement Among Sources

Story timeline · 1 earlier headline

Israel Reportedly Sought Ahmadinejad as Post-Regime Leader; He's Now Missing14d ago · 4 sources
Israel courted Iran's Ahmadinejad for post-regime role, reports claimcurrent

Sources

4 quotes

The Guardian↗

“Israel tried to recruit Iran’s intensely anti-Zionist former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a new post-Islamic regime in Tehran, even going as far as sending its top spy to Budapest to meet him.”

DW News↗

“Reports that Israel explored a scenario to effect regime change involving former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reveal how the Iran war has also become a struggle over narratives and perception.”

DW News↗

“"There is no public and independent evidence that can conclusively confirm or reject the details of this narrative," he said. "So it can neither be accepted without question nor simply dismissed because it has been denied."”

Related events

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

ABCLEL4 sources·14d agoes

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Some analysts caution that the reports lack independent verification and may serve political narratives. London-based analyst Babak Dorbeiki told DW: "There is no public and independent evidence that can conclusively confirm or reject the details of this narrative." Source: DW News

The Guardian↗

“Israeli missiles reportedly struck a guard post near Ahmadinejad’s home in the Narmak district of Tehran the same day, killing several body guards. The former president then disappeared in uncertain circumstances.”