Iranian Official Denies Ahmadinejad Was Israeli Spy
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
A former Iranian parliament member, Nezam al-Din Mousavi, has refuted claims that ex-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spied for Israel, citing a lack of evidence and his continued role within the regime. The controversy highlights ongoing internal debates in Iran about alleged Israeli infiltration.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former Iranian MP denies Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spied for Israel.
- No evidence presented to support espionage claims against Ahmadinejad.
- Ahmadinejad's office called similar reports "fake news."
- The issue is part of an internal Iranian debate on Israeli infiltration.
- Ahmadinejad himself previously alleged Israeli espionage within Iran.
A former Iranian parliament member, Nezam al-Din Mousavi, has dismissed claims that former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spied for Israel. Mousavi stated that it is unlikely someone in Ahmadinejad's position would be a spy while security agencies observed, and he never received intelligence about an active espionage case against him. He characterized the allegations as "unfitting accusations" and cautioned against relying on foreign publications without verifiable sources.
Ahmadinejad's office previously denied similar reports, calling them "Hollywood claims" and "fake news." Media outlets covering the story also noted the lack of public documents, recordings, or other evidence to independently verify claims of Ahmadinejad's cooperation with Israel's Mossad.
Mousavi pointed out that despite Ahmadinejad's presidential candidacy being disqualified by the Guardian Council, he remains a member of the Supreme National Security Council. Mousavi interprets this as the establishment still viewing him as part of the Islamic Republic, not an opposition figure outside the system.
Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013 and was known for his strong anti-Israel rhetoric, later fell out with powerful figures within the establishment and was repeatedly barred from running for president. In 2021, he himself alleged deep Israeli infiltration into Iranian security systems, claiming a senior official in the Ministry of Intelligence responsible for counter-espionage was an Israeli agent.
The issue has resurfaced amid internal debate in Iran regarding the extent of Israeli penetration into the country's security and political leadership.