Report Alleges Israel Pursued Secret Contacts With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Bid to Reshape Iran’s Leadership

A report published by The New York Times claims that Israel conducted a multi-year effort to establish contact with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of an alleged strategy aimed at influencing Iran's future political leadership. The report, which cites U.S. officials and individuals familiar with the matter, describes an operation that was ultimately unsuccessful.

According to the report, the initiative included at least two alleged meetings between Ahmadinejad and then-Mossad Director David Barnea, reportedly held in Hungary on the sidelines of an academic conference. The newspaper claims Israel viewed Ahmadinejad as a potential figure in a broader regime-change scenario inside Iran.

The report further alleges that during the opening phase of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran in February, Israeli operatives attempted to extract Ahmadinejad from what was described as house arrest. It also claims he was briefly taken to a secure location following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but later abandoned the plan after becoming dissatisfied with the proposed political strategy.

Ahmadinejad's current status remains unclear, according to the report. However, Iranian state television recently aired footage showing the former president attending a memorial ceremony in Tehran honoring Khamenei. In the video, Ahmadinejad appears to acknowledge supporters while surrounded by security personnel.

Ahmadinejad's office strongly rejected the allegations, dismissing them as "Hollywood-style claims" and describing the report as fabricated. Representatives also denied that the former president had been placed under house arrest, insisting he continues his normal activities.

Alleged Meetings in Hungary

The New York Times reports that Hungary allegedly played a role in facilitating one of the meetings by inviting Ahmadinejad to attend a climate conference in Budapest in 2024.

According to the newspaper, officials at Hungary's Ludovika University were instructed by senior government representatives to extend the invitation, which allegedly served as cover for discussions involving Israeli intelligence officials.

The report also claims Ahmadinejad returned to Budapest in 2025 for another alleged meeting with Israeli representatives.

A Dramatic Political Shift?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, becoming internationally known for his hardline rhetoric, repeated criticism of Israel, and controversial statements denying the Holocaust.

After leaving office, Iranian authorities repeatedly barred him from running in subsequent presidential elections. In recent years, however, Ahmadinejad has increasingly criticized Iran's ruling establishment, accusing senior officials of corruption and ineffective governance while presenting himself as an advocate for political reform.

According to The New York Times, Ahmadinejad eventually concluded that returning to power through Iran's existing political system was unlikely. The report cites individuals close to the former president who claim he believed outside support could create an opportunity for political change. It further alleges he expressed willingness to pursue dramatically different foreign policies, including recognizing Israel and seeking closer regional ties if he returned to office.

Intelligence Community Reportedly Divided

A separate report published by Haaretz states that Israeli intelligence officials were divided over the feasibility of the alleged operation.

According to that report, several senior officials within Israeli Military Intelligence questioned whether any military campaign could realistically trigger the collapse of Iran's government. They reportedly argued that predicting political outcomes during wartime was highly uncertain and warned that removing the existing leadership could create an even more unstable environment.

The Haaretz report also claims Israeli planners considered multiple scenarios—including the possibility that Iran's Revolutionary Guard could emerge even stronger following any attempt at regime change.

Neither The New York Times nor Haaretz reports have been independently verified. The Mossad has not publicly commented on the allegations, while Ahmadinejad's office has categorically denied the claims.