diplomacyMonday, July 13, 20262 sources

Israel's Mossad Attempted to Recruit Iran's Former President Ahmadinejad for Regime Change

In July 2026, Israel's Mossad sought to recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's former president, for a regime change in Tehran. Secret meetings and financial aid were allegedly arranged, but the plan failed when Ahmadinejad grew dissatisfied. Iranian authorities later placed him under house arrest after uncovering his contacts.

Mossad agents reportedly sought to recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a former Iranian president known for his anti-Zionist rhetoric, to lead a new post-Islamic regime in Tehran. The effort, which began in 2022, included secret meetings and financial aid. Mossad allegedly sent its top spy to Budapest to meet Ahmadinejad. The plan failed when Ahmadinejad became dissatisfied with the strategy, leading to an attempted extraction from Tehran that was unsuccessful. Iranian authorities discovered Ahmadinejad's alleged contacts with Mossad and placed him under house arrest. No official confirmation has been issued by either Israel or Iran. The Guardian reported that the effort continued even after Israel's campaign in Gaza against Hamas. The Times of India noted that no official confirmations have been made by either nation.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentThe GuardianJul 13, 09:36 PM
Israel courted Iran’s former hardline president for post-regime role, reports claim

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly wooed by Mossad agents after distancing himself from Khamenei Middle East crisis live – latest updates Israel tried to recruit Iran’s intensely anti-Zionist former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a new post-Islamic regime in Tehran, even going as far as sending its top spy to Budapest to meet him, according to media reports. The remarkable quest to turn a leader who had denied the Holocaust and called for Israel’s erasure began in 2022, according to reporting by the New York Times and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, and continued even after Israel became engaged in a brutal campaign in Gaza against Hamas, a key Iranian ally. Continue reading...

IndependentTimes of IndiaJul 13, 05:49 PM
How Israel's Mossad tried to recruit Iran's former president Ahmadinejad

Israel's Mossad reportedly sought to recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for regime change. Secret meetings and financial aid were allegedly provided to the former Iranian president. An attempted extraction from Tehran failed after Ahmadinejad grew dissatisfied with the plan. Iranian authorities later placed Ahmadinejad under house arrest after uncovering his alleged contacts. No official confirmations have been issued by either involved nation.