Recent claims have sparked renewed scrutiny of the US and Israeli attempts to overthrow Iran’s leadership, with allegations suggesting Israel once sought to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power. Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013, was known for his fiery rhetoric against Israel but later positioned himself as a regime critic and advocate for the impoverished, following a fallout with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Allegedly, Israel bombed a security facility near his residence in Tehran to facilitate his escape from house arrest, although he reportedly grew apprehensive about the plan.
The New York Times reported on these plans, which many view as either improbable or a disinformation campaign orchestrated by Ahmadinejad’s allies or Israeli intelligence. This incident highlights how the US and Israel may have overestimated both the opposition to the Iranian regime and their capacity to topple it through airstrikes. Amidst rising domestic anger over increasing gas prices, former President Donald Trump sought to distance himself from the conflict but contemplated additional airstrikes to pressure Tehran into compliance with his terms. After postponing a fresh attack due to intervention from Gulf leaders, Trump engaged in a lengthy call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing the potential resumption of hostilities.
When questioned about restraining Israel from striking Iran, Trump remarked that Netanyahu would adhere to his wishes, describing him as a “great guy.” Trump expressed a desire to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened, dismissing suggestions of being rushed, and stated, “I am in no hurry.” Tehran, meanwhile, remains defiant, refusing to meet US demands regarding uranium enrichment and instead aiming to lift sanctions in exchange for ending its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The US countered with a blockade on Iranian ports to halt oil shipments, primarily destined for China, Iran’s largest export market. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned of expanding the conflict beyond the region if Trump resumes attacks.
The Iranian media treated the report with skepticism, denying Ahmadinejad was under house arrest. Following Israeli airstrikes on February 28, reports emerged claiming Ahmadinejad had been killed in the attack on his home. However, it was later revealed that a nearby security post had been targeted, as confirmed by satellite imagery. In the aftermath, official reports stated Ahmadinejad sustained minor injuries, while his bodyguards were killed. Speculation arose that Ahmadinejad might leverage the chaos to regain power, though his connection with Netanyahu, given his history of Holocaust denial and anti-Israeli policies, seemed improbable.
Trump had initially signaled a strategy akin to the US intervention in Venezuela, where troops captured leader Nicolás Maduro but left the regime intact. While Maduro’s deputy cooperated with Washington, Ahmadinejad’s strained relations with Tehran’s regime made such an arrangement unlikely in Iran. Ahmadinejad’s influence waned after a 2011 disagreement with Khamenei and was further diminished when rival Ali Larijani became parliament speaker in 2012. Despite being arrested in 2018 for criticizing his successor Hassan Rouhani’s government, he continued to voice mild criticisms of Israeli strikes in 2025. In a notable shift, Ahmadinejad visited pro-Israel Hungary for a lecture last June, one of his few international trips since leaving office, indicating a significant evolution in his stance.