Israel’s Secret Campaign to Recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Iranian Leadership
Israel conducted a years-long, covert intelligence operation aimed at recruiting former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to serve as a potential leader for a post-theocratic regime in Tehran, according to reports from *The New York Times* and *Haaretz*. The effort, which involved direct meetings between Israeli intelligence officials and the former president, ultimately failed as Ahmadinejad became disillusioned with the plan.
A Multi-Year Intelligence Effort
The operation to engage Ahmadinejad began in 2022. Despite his history as a staunch anti-Zionist who denied the Holocaust and called for the destruction of Israel during his presidency from 2005 to 2013, Israeli officials identified a growing rift between him and the Iranian regime. Following his departure from office, Ahmadinejad was repeatedly disqualified from running for president by the Guardian Council. According to *The New York Times*, Israeli officials observed that Ahmadinejad had begun to distance himself from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other regime elements, expressing frustration with corruption and poor governance. Associates indicated that Ahmadinejad, who had previously been at the center of suppressing the 2009 “green movement,” sought to redefine his image—improving his English, moderating his public views, and even undergoing cosmetic procedures.
The Budapest Meetings and Mossad Involvement
A key component of the recruitment effort involved meetings in Hungary, facilitated by the country’s ties to Israel. In 2024, a senior Hungarian official requested that Gergely Deli, rector of the Ludovika University of Public Service, invite Ahmadinejad to a climate change conference. Deli later confirmed he was told the invitation served as cover for secret talks between the former Iranian leader and Israeli intelligence. Then-Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Budapest to meet with Ahmadinejad personally. *Haaretz* reported that Barnea’s involvement in the project was significant enough that he skipped a security consultation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the war in Gaza to focus on the Ahmadinejad operation. Reports indicate that Israel provided financial support to Ahmadinejad to cover travel and housing expenses, and Mossad operatives met with him on several occasions, including during a 2023 trip to Guatemala.
The Failed Attempt at Regime Change
The plan to install Ahmadinejad reached a critical phase in late February 2026, amid the opening of a military campaign against Iran by the U.S. and Israel. According to *The New York Times*, an Israeli airstrike targeted Ahmadinejad’s residential compound in Tehran, neutralizing his security detail and destroying his vehicle. Following the strike, Mossad operatives allegedly extracted him and moved him to a secret safe house in Tehran. However, the operation collapsed shortly thereafter. Ahmadinejad reportedly grew “frantic” and disillusioned with the Israeli-backed scheme to restore him to power. He abandoned the safe house under mysterious circumstances.
Current Status and Implications
Ahmadinejad’s whereabouts and current status have been a subject of intense speculation. He made his first public appearance in months at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the February strikes. During the funeral, he was observed surrounded by guards. According to Iranian officials cited by *The New York Times*, Ahmadinejad is currently in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence wing and is under house arrest. The Iranian authorities reportedly uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, leading to his detention. While the exact nature of the failed transition remains limited to these reports, associates of the former president noted that he had expressed a desire to normalize relations with Israel via the Abraham Accords should he return to power. Mossad officials have declined to comment on the investigation.
Summary of Known Developments
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Inception | Israel began covert contacts with Ahmadinejad in 2022. |
| Key Contact | Then-Mossad Director David Barnea met Ahmadinejad in Budapest in 2024. |
| Financial Support | Israel paid for Ahmadinejad’s travel and housing. |
| February 2026 | Israel conducted an extraction mission after striking his residence. |
| Outcome | Ahmadinejad left the safe house, disillusioned; now in IRGC custody. |
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