Mossad Leadership Shake-up Over Aborted Iran Regime-Change Plan

Mossad Director Roman Gofman removed two senior officials – the head of the agency’s Intelligence Directorate (appointed in December) and the chief of its Iran division – after a covert operation to topple Iran’s government failed to materialize. Both officials were unnamed in the reports. According to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, the dismissals were framed as part of a broader re-organization and the officers may remain in other Mossad roles. Channel 12 also noted that Gofman’s relationship with the two officials had been strained from the outset. N12 linked the firings directly to a Mossad-CIA proposal that had been presented to U.S. President Donald Trump but never implemented on the ground.

The Jerusalem PostMossad chief fired 2 senior officials over failed Iran regime-change plan: Israeli broadcaster

N12 described the secret plan as calling for Kurdish ground forces to enter Iran under extensive Israeli and U.S. air cover, with Iranian minorities assisting in removing the Islamic Republic’s leadership. The operation allegedly aimed to install former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a successor, a detail first reported by The New York Times and later echoed by N12. According to the same source, the Israel Air Force reportedly struck Ahmadinejad’s Tehran residence in an attempt to free him from house arrest. Channel 12 added that the scheme sought to fuel internal opposition and included a “post-regime” coordination phase with U.S. officials, but the effort stalled at an early stage and was ultimately shelved.

The Jerusalem PostMossad chief fired 2 senior officials over failed Iran regime-change plan: Israeli broadcaster

The plan unfolded amid heightened hostilities. Channel 12 reported that the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 3,000 people, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases and Israeli targets. Tensions flared again last month after fresh U.S. strikes inside Iran, leading to retaliatory attacks across the region, including in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. On June 18, Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement and began negotiations toward a final deal, which later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mossad chief fired 2 senior officials over failed Iran regime-change plan: Israeli broadcaster The Jerusalem Post

No immediate official Israeli comment was offered regarding the Mossad dismissals. A scheduled joint press conference with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu is set for September 29, 2025, where Gofman is expected to appear alongside the leaders.

The Jerusalem Post