Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was allegedly the subject of a covert Israeli intelligence operation aimed at positioning him as a potential leader of Iran in the event of the country’s leadership collapsing, according to reports published on July 14, 2026.
According to The Times of Israel, citing unnamed U.S. officials and sources familiar with the alleged operation, Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, spent several years cultivating contacts with Ahmadinejad as part of a broader strategy to influence Iran’s political future.
The report claimed the operation began around 2022 and included multiple secret meetings between Ahmadinejad and senior Israeli intelligence officials outside Iran. One alleged meeting took place in Budapest, Hungary, during an academic conference that reportedly served as cover for talks with then-Mossad chief David Barnea. Hungarian officials were also alleged to have facilitated the invitation.
Haaretz reported that the operation slowed after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war but later resumed as Israeli officials explored possible political scenarios in Iran.
The reports further alleged that Ahmadinejad returned to Budapest in 2025 for another meeting with Israeli intelligence representatives. He was also said to have met Israeli operatives during an environmental conference in Guatemala in 2023 after initially facing travel restrictions from Iranian authorities. Israel allegedly covered some of his travel and accommodation expenses.
One of the most significant claims, attributed to The New York Times, alleged that during the opening phase of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran earlier this year, Mossad operatives extracted Ahmadinejad from house arrest after Israeli strikes began and moved him to a secure location in preparation for a possible political role.
However, the report said Ahmadinejad later withdrew from the arrangement after becoming disillusioned with Israel’s broader plans for Iran. His current whereabouts remain unclear, although he was reportedly seen under heavy security during the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Neither Israel nor Iran has officially confirmed the allegations. According to the reports, Mossad declined to comment, while Ahmadinejad’s office also refused to issue a statement.
Ahmadinejad served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and became known internationally for his hardline stance against Israel and the West. During his presidency, he questioned the Holocaust, called for the elimination of Israel, and defended Iran’s nuclear programme, drawing widespread international condemnation.
After leaving office, his political influence declined as Iran’s Guardian Council repeatedly barred him from contesting presidential elections. In recent years, he became increasingly critical of Iran’s leadership, accusing senior officials of corruption, economic mismanagement, and failing to address citizens’ needs.
According to the reports, people close to Ahmadinejad said he believed meaningful political change within Iran’s existing system was impossible and viewed international backing as a potential path back to power. One associate reportedly claimed he was prepared to recognise Israel, strengthen ties with Western nations, and pursue membership in the Abraham Accords if he returned to office.
The reports also said the alleged plan faced opposition within Israel’s security establishment. Haaretz reported that senior military intelligence officials questioned both the feasibility of toppling Iran’s leadership and the wisdom of backing Ahmadinejad, warning that regime change could instead strengthen the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and produce unintended consequences.
The reports concluded that the broader strategy to weaken or replace Iran’s leadership ultimately failed to achieve its objectives, with the country’s governing institutions remaining in place.
