Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad Detained by Revolutionary Guards Over Israel Ties

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, is reportedly under house arrest by the intelligence branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Iranian authorities uncovered significant contacts between him and Israel. According to a New York Times investigation based on senior Iranian, Israeli, and American sources, Israel ran a covert operation for years to recruit Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset, with plans to install him as Iran's leader following a regime change.

A notable phase of the operation occurred in early 2024 when a Hungarian government official invited Ahmadinejad to a climate conference in Budapest, which served as a cover for secret meetings with Israeli intelligence agents. During the event, Ahmadinejad gave a speech in English emphasizing "shared humanity" and a "changing world order," notably omitting his usual Quranic opening. Israeli intelligence reportedly funded his travel and accommodation, and former Mossad chief David Barnea personally met with him in Budapest.

Ahmadinejad, who served from 2005 to 2013 and was known for hardline rhetoric including calls for Israel's destruction, gradually softened his stance after leaving office. He criticized Iran's security apparatus and corruption, adopted a more Western appearance, learned English, and portrayed himself as a moderate politician. Sources say his motivation was a desire to return to power, believing he could lead Iran from within and potentially normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

Tensions between Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei deepened after Ahmadinejad was repeatedly barred from running for president. Iranian intelligence began suspecting him after he sent public letters to Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017. His initial contacts with Israel may have started during a 2023 visit to Guatemala.

The operation peaked in February 2025 amid escalating US-Israel-Iran tensions when an Israeli strike hit Ahmadinejad's residence in Tehran. He was swiftly extracted by Mossad agents to a secret safe house inside Iran but later left under unclear circumstances. Iranian intelligence then investigated his Israel ties, leading to his current detention. Ahmadinejad has not appeared publicly since February except briefly at Khamenei's funeral, where he was notably present while other former presidents were absent. Neither Mossad nor Ahmadinejad's spokesperson responded to inquiries about the report.