Full Breakdown
Israel’s Failed Plot to Install Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran’s Leader
7/15/2026, 1:21:27 AM
Core Operation
In early 2026, Israeli intelligence launched a covert effort to place former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the head of a post-theocratic Iran. The plan, dubbed “Operation Puss in Boots” by some Israeli officials, called for a rapid extraction of Ahmadinejad from Tehran after an Israeli airstrike on 28 February 2026 hit his residential compound and bodyguard unit. Mossad operatives allegedly moved him to a secret safe house inside Iran, intending to use him as a transitional figure after a broader regime-change campaign. The operation collapsed when Ahmadinejad left the safe house under “mysterious circumstances” and later resurfaced at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral on 6 July 2026, where he appeared briefly surrounded by masked guards. Iranian authorities now say he is in the custody of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence wing.
Background & Context
Ahmadinejad served two terms (2005-2013) and was internationally known for Holocaust denial, calls for Israel’s destruction, and accelerating Iran’s nuclear program. After leaving office, he was repeatedly barred by the Guardian Council from running again (2017, 2021, 2024) and began moderating his public image—learning English, trimming his beard, and criticizing regime crackdowns. Israeli officials, noting his estrangement from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saw him as a potential figurehead for a post-regime order.
Timeline of Key Events
- 2022 – Israeli recruitment effort begins, according to U.S. and Israeli sources.
- 2024 – Mossad chief David Barnea meets Ahmadinejad in Budapest during a climate conference at Ludovika University of Public Service, arranged by rector Gergely Deli.
- June 2025 – Second Budapest meeting; Ahmadinejad reportedly shakes off IRGC bodyguards twice.
- 28 February 2026 – Israeli strike destroys Ahmadinejad’s Tehran compound; Mossad extracts him to a safe house.
- July 6 2026 – Ahmadinejad appears at Khamenei’s funeral; Iranian officials claim he is under IRGC house arrest.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overrode internal objections and ordered the plan to proceed. Former national-security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi dismissed the scheme as “wild fantasies,” while IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir halted the operation three days before its launch. The Israeli government has not commented publicly on the plot. Ahmadinejad’s office issued a social-media statement denying the allegations as “Hollywood-style claims” and asserting that he remains active in daily work. Four senior Iranian officials, cited by multiple reports, confirm his current IRGC custody.
Criticism & Opposition
Within Israel, senior intelligence officers expressed skepticism that the plan could succeed, warning that installing Ahmadinejad might trigger a military-run regime lacking civilian balance. IDF military-intelligence analysts argued that the operation could worsen Israel’s strategic position and that a Kurdish uprising, part of the broader scheme, was unlikely to materialize. Critics also noted the moral paradox of grooming a former Holocaust denier to normalize relations with Israel.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Ahmadinejad’s departure from the safe house: some describe it as a “frantic rescue mission” that left him disillusioned, while others label it a “mysterious” exit. Iranian officials assert he is under house arrest; his own office denies any detention. No independent verification of his exact location or the extent of Israeli payments for travel and housing has been made public.
Verbatim Quotes
- “wild fantasies” — Tzachi Hanegbi, former national-security adviser
- “You have two enemies, and if these enemies want to talk with each other, then it’s best to do what you can to make them talk,” — Gergely Deli, rector, Ludovika University of Public Service
- “Why did the Mossad let Ahmadinejad walk out after rescuing him?” — Alex Vatanka, head of the Iran programme, Middle East Institute
- “Ahmadinejad would not do this for money,” — Abdolreza Davari, former adviser to Ahmadinejad
- “shock within Netanyahu's cabinet.” — Haaretz report
What’s Next
With the regime still firmly in control and Ahmadinejad reportedly under IRGC house arrest, no concrete follow-up actions have been announced by Israeli or Iranian authorities. The broader Israeli strategy, including plans for Kurdish opposition forces, remains unrealized, leaving the future of any regime-change initiative uncertain.
