Israel Tried to Recruit Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad Before His Arrest

According to a New York Times report, Israel attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of a long-term plan to overthrow the Iranian regime and install a new government. American and Iranian sources told the newspaper that the operation involved contacting Ahmadinejad, funding his travels, transferring money to him, and arranging secret meetings with Israeli representatives abroad. A senior American official revealed that Ahmadinejad was identified as a preferred recruitment target by former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea.

The plan included involvement from senior Hungarian government officials who pressured the rector of Budapest University to organize a climate conference featuring Ahmadinejad. After Ahmadinejad agreed to participate, the rector was informed that the conference would serve as a cover for meetings between the former Iranian president and Israeli agents. Iranian sources noted that suspicions about Ahmadinejad arose as early as 2017, following his open letters to then-US President Donald Trump.

The operation, described as a failure in the recent conflict, culminated on February 28 when Ahmadinejad's home was bombed. A black Peugeot quickly arrived at the scene and extracted him from the rubble, reportedly with Mossad agents inside. Currently, according to four Iranian sources, Ahmadinejad is held by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.