The New York Times: Israeli intelligence plan centered on Ahmadinejad
The New York Times revealed details of a highly sensitive Israeli-American intelligence operation that allegedly sought to reshape the political future of Iran during the opening phase of the war.
According to the investigative report, the plan revolved around eliminating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of senior military and political figures, while simultaneously paving the way for former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to return to power as the head of a transitional leadership aligned with the new regional balance envisioned by Israeli and Western strategists.
Sources cited by the newspaper claimed that Israeli intelligence agencies viewed Ahmadinejad as a uniquely useful figure despite his long record of hostility toward the West.
Officials involved in the planning reportedly believed his nationalist image, revolutionary credentials, and influence among hardline factions could prevent the collapse of state institutions after the anticipated assassination campaign.
Analysts inside the operation argued that Ahmadinejad, unlike reformist or opposition figures abroad, still possessed enough legitimacy within parts of the security establishment and lower-ranking Revolutionary Guard circles to impose order during a period of extreme instability.
The report stated that one of the first operational objectives of the campaign was a precision Israeli airstrike targeting the secure compound where Ahmadinejad had allegedly been kept under strict internal restrictions and informal house arrest amid tensions with the ruling elite in Tehran.
The operation aimed to extract or liberate him within hours of the opening strikes, before the Iranian leadership could reorganize command structures or communicate with loyalist forces across the country.
Israeli planners reportedly expected the sudden appearance of Ahmadinejad on state television, following the deaths of senior leaders, to create shockwaves inside Iran and trigger divisions within the political establishment.
Intelligence assessments suggested that some conservative networks frustrated with Khamenei’s inner circle might rally around the former president as a temporary national figure capable of preventing civil conflict.
However, according to The New York Times investigation, the operation suffered a critical failure almost immediately.
A mistake during the execution of the airstrike resulted in Ahmadinejad being seriously wounded rather than freed.
Although he survived, the injuries and ensuing chaos forced him into complete isolation and removed him from any potential political role.
Intelligence officials reportedly described the incident as the turning point that caused the broader strategy to unravel within hours.
The report added that the failure created confusion among factions expected to coordinate with the plan from inside Iran.
Without a recognizable alternative figure prepared to assume authority, the anticipated chain reaction inside the Iranian political system never materialized.
Instead, security institutions rapidly closed ranks, and emergency command structures were activated to preserve continuity within the regime.
Neither Israeli nor US officials publicly commented on the allegations contained in the report.
Iranian authorities also refrained from directly addressing the claims, though state-affiliated media dismissed the story as “psychological warfare” intended to inflame tensions and spread distrust among senior political factions in Tehran.
