The New York Times reports new details on a years-long Mossad operation to cultivate former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a post-regime asset, including secret meetings, funding, and a failed rescue on the first day of the war. The report says Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing.
The New York Times, in a report co-authored by Ronen Bergman, has detailed a failed Mossad rescue attempt of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on February 28 — the opening day of the war between Israel and the US and Iran. According to the report, an Israeli strike hit the compound where Ahmadinejad was staying, and Mossad agents arrived in a black Peugeot to extract him. However, the rescue did not go as planned; Ahmadinejad was reportedly disappointed and angry with the execution, and later left the safe house under unclear circumstances. This new detail, published earlier today, adds to the unfolding story of the Mossad's long-running operation to cultivate Ahmadinejad as a post-regime asset.
The story emerged earlier today, with Haaretz first reporting that Mossad Director Dedi Barnea personally oversaw the operation (Mon 13:43 Jerusalem). Shortly after, The New York Times published a series of updates confirming that Barnea met Ahmadinejad in Budapest in 2024, that Israel funded his travel and living expenses, and that Ahmadinejad had softened his anti-Israel stance and studied English as part of the cultivation. The Times also reported that four senior Iranian officials confirmed Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing, following exposure of his contacts with Israel. The rescue attempt details were the latest component of the Times investigation.
The operation is one of the most ambitious Mossad attempts to shape Iran's post-regime landscape, as The Zioneer has reported throughout the day. The contact with Ahmadinejad was reportedly shared with the CIA.
It remains unclear what exactly led to Ahmadinejad leaving the safe house, and whether the house arrest is a formal detention or a precautionary measure. The IRGC's intelligence wing has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations.
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