The New York Times reports new details on Israel's secret effort to cultivate former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a post-regime leader, including that Mossad chief Dedi Barnea personally met him in Budapest in 2024 and that Israel covertly paid for his living and travel expenses. Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing, according to Iranian and American officials.
The New York Times, in a report cited by Israeli journalist Amit Segal (N12), has revealed that Israel covertly funded former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's living expenses and travel, and that former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea personally met him in Budapest in 2024. This is the latest development in a story that has quickly unfolded over the past hour, with multiple reports from The Zioneer and other outlets detailing a long-running Mossad operation to cultivate Ahmadinejad as a potential post-regime leader.
The Zioneer's coverage began at 13:43 Jerusalem, when Haaretz first reported that Barnea personally oversaw the recruitment effort. Shortly after, The New York Times confirmed, citing four Iranian officials, that Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing. A subsequent NYT bulletin named Barnea's meeting with Ahmadinejad in Budapest. At 13:52 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published an article summarizing the NYT's initial report. Follow-up bulletins at 13:53 and 13:54 Jerusalem detailed the failed extraction on the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion and the Mossad's disclosure to the CIA. The new funding details now add a further layer to the operation.
As The Zioneer reported earlier, Ahmadinejad was briefly extracted by Mossad agents on February 28 after an Israeli strike hit his compound, but he left the safe house under unclear circumstances. He resurfaced at the funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei this past Monday. The reports also note that Ahmadinejad softened his anti-Israeli rhetoric after leaving office and began presenting himself as a more moderate figure.
The precise circumstances of Ahmadinejad's extraction and subsequent detention, as well as the extent of the IRGC's knowledge of the operation, remain unverified by independent sources. The Zioneer continues to monitor this developing story.
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