According to Abu Ali Express, citing a New York Times investigation co-authored by Ronen Bergman, the Mossad reportedly cultivated former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential post-regime leader, including secret meetings and funding. The report says Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing.
Abu Ali Express, a recognized Israeli source monitoring Arab media, reports on a New York Times investigation co-authored by Ronen Bergman, stating that former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing. This development aligns with details The Zioneer has been tracking since the story broke earlier today.
At 13:43 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported, via Haaretz, that Mossad chief Dedi Barnea personally oversaw an operation to recruit Ahmadinejad. Minutes later, The Zioneer published a series of updates from the New York Times: four Iranian officials confirmed Ahmadinejad was under house arrest; Barnea met Ahmadinejad in Budapest in 2024; Israel covertly funded his living and travel expenses; and Ahmadinejad had softened his anti-Israel stance, changed his dress, and learned English as part of the Mossad's cultivation effort. The Zioneer's own reporting added that a failed rescue attempt occurred on February 28, the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion, when an Israeli strike hit Ahmadinejad's compound and Mossad agents extracted him, and that he appeared at the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a week ago.
The New York Times investigation, co-authored by Ronen Bergman, describes one of the most audacious Israeli intelligence operations aimed at positioning a friendly figure in Tehran. The Zioneer's coverage has contextualized this within the broader war timeline, including the failed rescue and Ahmadinejad's rare public appearance.
The NYT report has not been independently confirmed. The Iranian government has not commented. The IRGC's house arrest of Ahmadinejad, if confirmed, underscores the regime's sensitivity to internal threats.
5 developments
- StrongNYT: Israel paid former Iranian president Ahmadinejad, attempted rescue on Operation Roaring Lion opening day
- DevelopingAhmadinejad met Mossad chief under alleged Israeli plan, now under arrest — report
- DevelopingReport: Mossad agents extracted Ahmadinejad after Israeli strike on his compound on Feb. 28
- DevelopingAhmadinejad reportedly spotted at Khamenei's funeral in first public appearance since Operation Roaring Lion
Source and signal
- Internal intake