Iranian media report that former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a meeting of the economic committee of the regime's Interest Security Council on Saturday, days after the New York Times reported he is under house arrest by IRGC intelligence over alleged ties with Israel and Mossad.
Iranian media reported Tuesday that former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a meeting of the economic committee of the regime's Interest Security Council on Saturday, July 11. The report contradicts a New York Times story published Monday claiming that Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by IRGC intelligence over alleged ties with Israel and Mossad.
Ahmadinejad's office denied the NYT report on Tuesday morning, calling it a 'completely false fabrication.' The former president's appearance at a regime committee meeting — a routine economic body — suggests he retains freedom of movement, at least for official functions.
The NYT report, which drew on Iranian and American sources, alleged that Mossad had cultivated Ahmadinejad as a post-regime leader and attempted to extract him during an Israeli strike on his compound on February 28. Ahmadinejad's office has consistently denied any contact with Israeli intelligence.
The development is likely to fuel further debate in Iran and abroad about the former president's status and the reliability of the NYT's sourcing.
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