The New York Times reports new details on a years-long Mossad operation to cultivate former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential leader of post-Islamic Republic Iran, including secret meetings with then-Mossad chief Dedi Barnea and a failed extraction on the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion. Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing.
A new report by The New York Times published Monday afternoon reveals that Israel's Mossad cultivated former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for years as a potential leader of a post-Islamic Republic Iran, including secret meetings with then-Mossad chief Dedi Barnea in Budapest and covert funding. The report, which adds the framing of long-term grooming to the rapidly unfolding story, says Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing.
The story first broke at 13:43 Jerusalem, when Haaretz reported that Barnea personally oversaw the operation. By 13:52, The Zioneer reported that four Iranian officials confirmed the house arrest. At 13:55, a bulletin added that Israel attempted to rescue Ahmadinejad on the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion (February 28), including a strike on his compound and a Mossad extraction to a safe house. N12 reported at 14:03 that agents extracted him in a black Peugeot after the strike. At 14:04, The Zioneer published an article detailing the extraction. Further NYT details at 14:19 described the failed rescue. At 14:33, The Zioneer noted that contacts with Ahmadinejad began in 2023. Times of Israel confirmed the meeting and arrest at 15:21. At 15:51, commentator Dror Balazada called Ahmadinejad 'the greatest underminer of Israel and Holocaust denier.'
As The Zioneer has reported throughout the day, the operation involved a targeted strike on Ahmadinejad's security detail, a Mossad extraction, and a transfer to a secret safe house inside Iran. The NYT report, citing Iranian and American officials, portrays the effort as one of the most audacious Mossad operations in recent years, targeting a former head of state of a hostile power.
What remains unclear: the full extent of Mossad's plans for a post-regime scenario, the degree of Ahmadinejad's willing cooperation, and his current condition under house arrest. The IRGC's intelligence wing has not commented publicly.
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