Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad Denies Secret Ties with Mossad Amid NYT Report
The office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's former president, has strongly denied allegations of secret contacts with Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, calling the claims "Hollywood-style ridiculous accusations" and "fabricated lies." The statement, published on Ahmadinejad's official page, rejected all assertions made by The New York Times, accusing the newspaper of attempting to mislead public opinion and sow discord within Iran, even suggesting it might publish false reports for payment.
The denial also refuted reports that Ahmadinejad was under house arrest by the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence unit, asserting he continues his daily activities as usual. The New York Times investigation, based on over 30 political, diplomatic, and security sources, alleged that Israel began cultivating ties with Ahmadinejad in 2022 after concluding his stance toward Iran's leadership had shifted. According to the report, a senior Hungarian official invited Ahmadinejad in 2024 to a climate change conference at Budapest's Ludovika University, which served as a cover for secret meetings with Israeli intelligence agents. American sources claimed Mossad chief David Barnea personally traveled to Budapest to meet Ahmadinejad.
The report further stated that Israel funded part of Ahmadinejad's travel and accommodation expenses and that Israeli agents met with him multiple times outside Iran. During a 2025 visit to Budapest, Ahmadinejad reportedly evaded Revolutionary Guards' security twice. The situation escalated on February 28 with an Israeli strike hitting a building used by his guards and his armored car. Mossad agents then evacuated him to a safe house inside Iran. Subsequently, Ahmadinejad left the safe house under unclear circumstances and was reportedly placed under house arrest by the Revolutionary Guards.
Ahmadinejad was last publicly seen at the funeral of Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated, marking his first public appearance since the war began. Serving as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, Ahmadinejad was known for Holocaust denial and calls for Israel's destruction. In recent years, he distanced himself from the regime, criticized corruption and protest repression, and was barred three times from running for president again. A close associate told The New York Times that Ahmadinejad concluded he could not return to power under the current regime and would seek to normalize relations with Israel if he did. Ahmadinejad's office now dismisses the entire narrative as a psychological warfare attempt against him and the Iranian public.
