Report says U.S. and Israel considered Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a postwar leadership role in Iran
The Facts
- Several news outlets, citing a New York Times report, say the U.S. and Israel had an early plan to elevate former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of regime change in Iran.
- The reported plan was tied to the opening phase of the war with Iran and envisioned Ahmadinejad taking power after Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.
- The reporting says Ahmadinejad was consulted about the plan before it fell apart.
- According to the cited officials, an Israeli strike on or near Ahmadinejad's Tehran residence was intended to free him from house arrest by targeting the guards or security post watching him.
- Multiple reports say Ahmadinejad survived that strike but was wounded, and that this contributed to the collapse of the plan.
- The reported choice of Ahmadinejad drew attention because he is widely known for anti-Israel and anti-U.S. positions during and after his presidency.
- The report indicates the war's initial objectives, as described by the cited officials, went beyond military targets to include an attempt to shape Iran's postwar political leadership.
- Important details remain unresolved in the public reporting, including Ahmadinejad's current whereabouts and condition, while the central account relies on unnamed U.S. officials and a person close to him.
Context
What is the core new claim in this report?
The core claim is that the United States and Israel began the war with Iran with an early regime-change concept that would have put former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a leadership role after the killing of Iran's top leadership haaretz.com,NYT,Indian Express.
How was Ahmadinejad allegedly supposed to be brought into that plan?
The reporting says Ahmadinejad had been consulted in advance and that an Israeli strike on or near his Tehran home was meant to free him from house arrest by hitting the security personnel or post monitoring him ynetnews,ETV Bharat News,News18,Haberler.
Why is Ahmadinejad's reported role considered unusual?
The cited coverage describes Ahmadinejad as an unexpected choice because he is closely associated with hardline politics and anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric, even though the report says U.S. and Israeli planners still considered him for a postwar role Asian News Internat…,Hindustan Times,ANSA.it,Al Jazeera Online.
Where Left and Right agree, and where they split
- Where Left and Right agree
- The reported plan went beyond killing or removing Iran’s leadership to trying to shape who would rule next, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s alleged role underscoring how far the operation, if accurately described, extended beyond conventional military aims.
- Where Left and Right split
- Less a disagreement than a question of emphasis: the broader danger of using war to engineer another country’s political leadership, versus the specific contradiction of backing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad despite his well-known anti-U.S. and anti-Israel positions.
How left and right read it
Left says
What stands out is not just the reported military campaign, but that the war’s opening phase was also described as an effort to engineer Iran’s political leadership by elevating Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That matters because it points to a far more expansive use of power than strikes alone, even as key details remain unresolved and the central account rests on unnamed officials.
Is this how the left would actually put it?
Right says
What stands out here is not just the reported effort to remove Iran’s leadership, but the attempt to shape who would replace it. If the cited account is right, the U.S. and Israel were prepared to back Mahmoud Ahmadinejad despite his well-known anti-U.S. and anti-Israel positions, and the public still lacks key verified details because the core story rests on unnamed officials.
Is this how the right would actually put it?
The receipts — 100 sources
Wire services (2)
Independent coverage (98)
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The Jerusalem PostIran's former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is back, at leas...
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DNyuz'Straight out of South Park': MS NOW hosts burst into laught...
vinnews.comNYT: US And Israel Wanted Ahmedinjad To Take Over Iran, But ...
Raw Story'Straight out of South Park': MS NOW hosts burst into laught...
euronewsNyt rivela piano Usa e Israele per il cambio di regime in Ir...
Al Jazeera OnlineUS and Israel planned to install Ahmadinejad as Iranian lead...
LaSextaEEUU e Israel tenían como objetivo instalar a Ahmadineyad en...
Yeni ŞafakNYT: US, Israel planned to install Ahmadinejad as Iran's lea...
La Voce di New YorkIran Shocker: Israel and the U.S. Were Betting on Ahmadineja...
The Media LineReport Says Ahmadinejad Was Considered for Role After Iran L...
Middle East EyeIsrael considered installing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as ruler du...
TargatoCNIran, Pasdaran: "Se Usa attaccano guerra si estenderà oltre ...
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Haberler.comThe plan that collapsed on the first day of the war! The US ...
ABC DigitalEE.UU. e Israel querían alzar al poder a Ahmadineyad al prin...
Газета.uzСША и Израиль планировали вернуть к власти в Иране экс-прези...
Diario de SevillaEl ex presidente Ahmadineyad, objetivo de un plan israelí-es...
FirstpostWho is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, US and Israel's pick to lead Ira...
Gazete PencereNew York Times: ABD ve İsrail, Ahmedinejad'ı kurtarmak için ...
El ConfidencialUn 'Delcy' persa: así fue el plan más delirante de Israel y ...
The Times of IsraelNYT: Israeli-developed plan sought to have Ahmadinejad run I...
Democratic UndergroundNYT report: The "Iranian Delcy" was supposed to be none othe...
Накануне.руNYT: США и Израиль пытались совершить переворот в Иране, осв...
eldiario.esEEUU e Israel querían aupar al poder al expresidente Ahmadin...
SabahABD basınında çarpıcı iddia: Hedeflerden birinin İran'ın esk...
قناة العربيةTrump weighed Ahmadinejad as Iran's next leader: Report
The Media LineIsraeli Plan Reportedly Envisioned Ahmadinejad Leading Post-...
L'UnitàAhmadinejad nuovo leader dell'Iran, il piano segreto di Trum...
HABERTURK.COMNYT iddia etti: ABD/İsrail saldırılarında İran'ın başına esk...
Anadolu AjansıABD/İsrail saldırılarının, İran'ın başına eski Cumhurbaşkanı...
ilgiornaleditalia.itIran, "Usa e Israele volevano l'ex presidente Ahmadinejad al...
News18Who Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Ex-President And Hardliner Backe...
HaberlerABD Medyası: ABD ve İsrail'in İran'da Savaş Hedeflerinden Bi...
WIONDid the US and Israel plan to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in...
Il PostStati Uniti e Israele volevano Mahmoud Ahmadinejad come nuov...
La RazónEEUU e Israel querían aupar al poder a Ahmadineyad al princi...
AmeVe Blog è una fonte di informazioni su svariati argomenti di interesse.Piano segreto USA e Israele: Ahmadinejad al comando dell'Ira...
Il Fatto Quotidiano"Ahmadinejad interlocutore Usa-Israele dopo caduta regime"
NDTV ProfitPost-War Leader: US Eyed Ex-Iran President Who Once Warned T...
LaVanguardiaIsrael y EE.UU. planearon reinstalar en el poder iraní al ex...
News.azUS and Israel allegedly planned leadership change in Iran in...
englishUS, Israel Backed Ahmadinejad As Post-Khamenei Face Of Iran?...
Affari ItalianiNyt: "Usa e Israele volevano Ahmadinejad alla guida dell'Ira...
Euronews EspañolIrán: EE.UU. e Israel querían que Ahmadineyad volviese al po...
MedyascopeNew York Times: "ABD ve İsrail'in hedefi, İran'da Ahmedineja...
Firstpost'Melodi' returns: Italy's Meloni shares reel of PM Modi offe...
The Times of IndiaDid regime change plans in Iran include hardliner who called...
НОВОСТИ Mail.RuNYT раскрыла "дерзкий замысел" Израиля по смене власти в Ира...
protothemanews.comNew York Times: The secret US-Israel plan to replace the mul...
haaretz.comU.S. Senate passes symbolic war powers resolution as Trump v...
Arab NewsIsraeli war plan sought to install Ahmadinejad in Iran -- Ne...
FirstpostUS & Israel planned to instal ex-President Ahmadinejad as Ir...
TRT WorldUS and Israel planned to put former Iranian president Ahmadi...
Minval.azРаскрыт "дерзкий план" Израиля по смене власти в Иране - Min...
The Jerusalem PostIsrael, US early war goals sought to reinstate Iran's former...
The AgeAstonishing early Iran war goal: Hand power back to the man ...
Brisbane TimesAstonishing early Iran war goal: Hand power back to the man ...
ANSA.itNyt, Usa e Israele volevano al potere in Iran l'ex president...
Hindustan TimesUS, Israel had a surprising name in mind for regime change i...
Anadolu AjansıEarly goal of US-Israeli war on Iran was to install hardline...
Rediff.com India Ltd.Report reveals US-Israel regime change plan in Iran
ynetnewsReport: US, Israel planned to install Ahmadinejad in Iran an...
News18Appoint A Hardliner In Tehran? Inside The War's Early Iran R...
RT en EspañolRevelan un "audaz plan" de EE.UU. e Israel contra Irán
OpenCosì Usa e Israele volevano mettere un antisemita a capo del...
Daily News and Analysis (DNA) IndiaWho is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? NYT Report claims ex-Iran Presid...
i24NEWS EnglishIsrael, US initially planned for hardline former Iranian pre...
ETV Bharat NewsUS, Israel Planned To Instal Ahmadinejad As Iran President I...
The New Indian Express'Someone from within': Report claims US, Israel planned to i...
The New York TimesEl objetivo inicial de la guerra en Irán era instalar al exp...
i24NEWS EnglishUS intelligence reportedly identifies at least 10 Iranian mi...
The StatesmanTrump-backed Tehran reset? Report claims Ahmadinejad was eye...
FrontPage MagazineIsrael Broke the New York Times | Frontpage Mag
India TodayUS, Israel eyed Ahmadinejad to lead Iran after war. Here' wh...
Israel Hayom EnglishReport: US, Israel planned to install Ahmadinejad as Iran's ...
NewsDrumUS, Israel planned to instal Ahmadinejad as Iran president i...
newKerala.comUS-Israel Plan to Install Ahmadinejad After Iran Strike
Business StandardEarly war goal was to install hard line former President as ...
The Indian ExpressEarly war goal was to install hard line former President as ...
MoneyControl'Someone from within': US-Israeli war plan sought hardliner ...
Democratic UndergroundEarly War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as ...
Asian News International (ANI)"Someone from within": Report reveals alleged US-Israeli pla...
The Straits TimesEarly war goal was to install hardline former president Ahma...
Democratic UndergroundEarly War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as ...
Arutz Sheva Israel NewsReport: Israel and the US planned to Ahmadinejad in power in...
El-Balad.comMahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed in reported Iran post-conflict...
The Boston GlobeEarly war goal was to install former president as Iran's lea...
The Times of IsraelNYT: Israeli-developed war plans sought to have Ahmedinejad ...
The Times of IsraelNYT: Israeli-developed war plans sought to have Ahmedinejad ...
Lenta.ruНа Западе раскрыли "дерзкий замысел" Израиля по смене власти...
Oman ObserverEarly war goal was to install former president as leader
TimesNowUS, Israel Wanted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad To Lead Iran After War...
DNyuzEarly War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as ...
Taegan Goddard's Political WireEarly Iran War Goal Was to Install New Leader
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