Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, is reportedly under house arrest following the revelation of his clandestine connections with Israel and the Mossad.
An exclusive investigation by the New York Times, released on Monday, claims that Ahmadinejad—dubbed 'The Man of a Thousand Bullets' for his alleged role in political prisoner executions—is currently detained by the intelligence wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This disclosure emerges amid an ongoing military conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, where fragile negotiations and heightened tensions have prevailed since the ceasefire was suspended on July 8.
The investigation, authored by four Times journalists who spoke with American and Iranian officials on the condition of anonymity, suggests Israel ran a long-term covert operation to recruit Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset, aiming to position him as Iran's new leader following the planned overthrow of the existing regime.
One notable incident in this operation occurred in early 2024, when a Hungarian government official requested that Gergely Deli, the rector of the University of Public Service Ludovika in Budapest, invite the former president to a climate change conference. This event was a cover for secret meetings with Israeli intelligence.
"You have two enemies, and if those enemies wish to talk, the best thing you can do is facilitate the conversation," Deli stated to the Times, justifying his involvement despite potential reputational risk.
David Barnea, then director of the Mossad, allegedly traveled to Budapest in 2024 to meet with Ahmadinejad. Soon after, the Mossad informed the CIA of their successful contact with the former leader.
Over the subsequent years, Israel discreetly financed Ahmadinejad's living and travel expenses. Mossad operatives met him on several occasions abroad, including a second trip to Budapest in June 2025, just before the war commenced. IRGC bodyguards reported that Ahmadinejad slipped away from his security detail at least twice for extended meetings.
The scheme reached its climax on February 28, 2026, the first day of the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, when an Israeli airstrike targeted Ahmadinejad's Tehran compound, destroying his bodyguards' building and armored vehicle. According to four senior Iranian officials, during the ensuing chaos, a black Peugeot, driven by Mossad agents, whisked him away to a secret safe house within Iran.
However, the plan unraveled. Ahmadinejad became disenchanted with the operation and the Israeli proposal to reinstate him in power. He left the safe house under circumstances that remain unclear.
He did not reappear publicly until Monday, July 7, when he briefly attended Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral, visibly guarded, with his head bowed, flanked by apparent security personnel. The other two living ex-presidents, Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Khatami, were not invited to the ceremonies.
According to his former advisor, Abdolreza Davari, Ahmadinejad's motives were not financial: "He has money; he has a vast economic network. He would do it for power. He wants to be at the forefront of power."
Close associates told the Times that Ahmadinejad confided in his inner circle that, if reinstated, Iran would recognize Israel and normalize relations under the Abraham Accords initiated by President Donald Trump.
Tamir Hayman, former head of Israeli Defense Forces intelligence, confirmed in May on PBS's "Firing Line" that the regime change plan involved "a sequence of very, very unique special operations that needed to happen. And Ahmadinejad was part of that sequence."
The Mossad did not respond to the Times' requests for comment, nor did Ahmadinejad’s spokesperson, Ali Akbar Javanfekr. Iran has yet to officially confirm the house arrest, leaving his exact status unverified.
Key Questions About Ahmadinejad's Alleged Mossad Connections
Why was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reportedly placed under house arrest?
Ahmadinejad is reportedly under house arrest due to alleged secret ties with Israel's Mossad, aiming to position him as a leader in Iran after a proposed regime change.
What was the role of the Mossad in the alleged plot involving Ahmadinejad?
The Mossad reportedly conducted a covert operation to recruit Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset with the ultimate goal of reinstating him as Iran's leader after regime change.
How did Ahmadinejad reportedly react to the operation?
Ahmadinejad reportedly became disillusioned with the operation and the promise of power, eventually leaving the safe house under unclear circumstances.