A former senior Mossad official analyzed the recruitment mechanism and stated that former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's alleged cooperation with Israeli intelligence was motivated by a desire to return to power, according to a report on the source.
In a post on Monday evening, a former senior Mossad official analyzed the recruitment mechanism that allegedly led former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to cooperate with Israeli intelligence. The official stated that the primary motive was Ahmadinejad's desire to return to power. This analysis comes amid a cascade of reports that began at 13:23 Jerusalem, when four Iranian officials told the New York Times that Ahmadinejad had been arrested by the IRGC's intelligence organization and placed under house arrest over alleged ties to Israel.
The initial NYT report, citing four Iranian officials, was followed by a public statement from Ahmadinejad dismissing the regime, as reported by N12 (13:23 Jerusalem). Subsequently, the Jerusalem Post confirmed the arrest (13:23 Jerusalem), and the Times of Israel reported that Ahmadinejad had met with Mossad chief Dedi Barnea as part of an alleged Israeli plan to install him as leader (13:23 Jerusalem). The Zioneer had previously reported on the NYT investigation detailing the Mossad's years-long effort to groom Ahmadinejad. The thread shows a progression from a single anonymous report to multiple named news organizations confirming the arrest and alleged meetings.
As The Zioneer reported on Monday at 13:52 Jerusalem, the New York Times investigation revealed that Mossad had cultivated Ahmadinejad for years, including secret meetings with Barnea and a failed extraction during Operation Roaring Lion. Separately, a Times of Israel report (15:21 Jerusalem) cited details of the alleged Israeli plan to install Ahmadinejad as a post-regime leader.
The former Mossad official's analysis did not disclose specific details of the recruitment mechanism, and the claim that Ahmadinejad's motive was a desire to return to power remains unverified. The official's identity and the source of his information have not been revealed. The exact circumstances of Ahmadinejad's current detention status remain unclear, as the regime has not officially confirmed his arrest.
8 developments
- DevelopingNYT: Mossad Groomed Ahmadinejad as Post-Regime Leader, Smuggled Him Out of Tehran
- StrongNYT: Israel paid former Iranian president Ahmadinejad, attempted rescue on Operation Roaring Lion opening day
- DevelopingReport: Mossad agents extracted Ahmadinejad after Israeli strike on his compound on Feb. 28
- DevelopingFormer Mossad official argues Iran sees Trump as predictable, exploits talks
Source and signal
- Internal intake