Iran Expert Denies Reports of Mossad Recruiting Former President Ahmadinejad
How 9 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
First reported by Ynet · Jul 13, 2026
What happened
Iran expert Rani Amrani dismissed reports that Mossad recruited former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling them fake news and implausible. The New York Times alleged a secret Israeli operation aimed at positioning Ahmadinejad as a future leader after an Israeli airstrike and covert meetings abroad. Iranian authorities later detained Ahmadinejad following exposure of his contacts with Israel.
- 01Iran expert Rani Amrani denies Mossad recruited former President Ahmadinejad.
- 02New York Times reported secret Mossad meetings with Ahmadinejad in Budapest in 2024.
- 03Israeli airstrike targeted Ahmadinejad's Tehran residence on February 28, 2024.
- 04Mossad allegedly extracted Ahmadinejad to a safe house inside Iran to promote him as alternative leader.
- 05Ahmadinejad resisted the plan and was later placed under house arrest by Revolutionary Guards.
- 06Amrani claims reports are politically motivated and implausible given Iranian regime dynamics.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 9 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
