Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied reports that Israel's Mossad planned to recruit him to lead Iran after a potential regime collapse [1].
The allegations highlight the clandestine efforts by foreign intelligence agencies to influence the internal political structure of Iran. If true, such a plan would represent a high-stakes attempt to install a known former leader as a puppet or strategic ally to reshape the region's geopolitical landscape.
Reports first surfaced in early 2026, specifically between January and March, detailing a bold strategy developed by Israeli officials [2, 3]. According to the New York Times, as cited by other news outlets, the plan involved recruiting Ahmadinejad to serve as an opposition force and a potential successor should the current Iranian system fall [4]. These reports indicated that the U.S. provided support for the initiative [2, 3].
However, the initiative did not materialize. BBC Arabic said the bold plan developed by the Israelis and consulted upon with Ahmadinejad soon faltered [2].
Responding to these claims, the office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a statement rejecting the reports. The office said there were no relations between the former president and the Mossad, nor was there any plan for his installation in the event of a government collapse [1].
The discrepancy between the intelligence reports and the former president's denial underscores the secretive nature of these operations. While the New York Times reporting suggests a coordinated effort between Washington and Tel Aviv to utilize Ahmadinejad's previous political standing, the former president said he was never part of such an arrangement [1, 4].
“The office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied reports of relations with the Mossad.”
This incident illustrates the ongoing 'shadow war' between Israel and Iran, where intelligence agencies attempt to identify and cultivate internal fractures within the Iranian leadership. By targeting a former president, the Mossad and U.S. intelligence sought a figure with existing name recognition and political infrastructure to ensure a stable, pro-Western transition in the event of a revolution, though the failure of the plan suggests significant hurdles in recruiting high-level Iranian officials.
