The New York Times reports that Israel's Mossad conducted a daring operation to extract former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on February 28, the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion, as part of a long-running effort to install him as a post-regime leader. The operation failed, and Ahmadinejad is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing, according to Iranian and American officials cited by the Times.
The New York Times has published a detailed account of Israel's secret effort to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential post-regime leader, including the first specific timeline of a rescue operation on February 28, the opening day of Operation Roaring Lion. According to the report, Mossad agents extracted Ahmadinejad from his home compound after an Israeli airstrike targeted the building where his bodyguards and armored vehicle were located. He was driven to a safe house, but he left under unclear circumstances and is now under house arrest by the IRGC's intelligence wing.
The Zioneer reported earlier today (13:42) that the Times revealed former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea met Ahmadinejad in Hungary in 2024 and 2025, and that Israel paid him secretly. The Haaretz daily separately reported (13:45) that Barnea personally ran the operation. Four Iranian officials confirmed to the Times (13:46) that Ahmadinejad is under house arrest on suspicion of ties to Israel.
The report cites American and Iranian officials describing the effort as part of a years-long Israeli attempt to cultivate Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset, despite his history of Holocaust denial and acceleration of Iran's nuclear program. The Mossad informed the CIA of the meetings. The operation's failure, and Ahmadinejad's subsequent detention, mark a significant setback for Israeli intelligence planning regarding Iran's post-regime landscape.
4 developments
- DevelopingNYT: Mossad Groomed Ahmadinejad as Post-Regime Leader, Smuggled Him Out of Tehran
- 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