US and Israel reportedly considered installing Ahmadinejad as Iranian president

US and Israel Plan to Replace Iranian Leadership with Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

According to a report by The New York Times, US officials had planned to replace Iran’s leadership with former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The plan was reportedly part of an “audacious” strategy aimed at installing a hardline leader in the country.

US officials briefed on the plan stated that things did not go as expected, and Ahmadinejad’s current whereabouts and condition are unknown. After Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, US President Donald Trump expressed his preference for someone from within Iran to take over the country.

Ahmadinejad had a history of clashing with regime leaders and was known for his anti-Israel stance. During his presidency from 2005 to 2013, he called for the “wiping Israel off the map” and supported Iran’s nuclear program. However, in a 2019 interview, Ahmadinejad praised Trump and advocated for improved relations between Iran and the US.

The Times reported that Trump was pleased with the success of a special forces raid that kidnapped Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his interim replacement, Delcy Rodriguez. The US officials believed that a similar model could be applied to Iran. However, the plan “quickly went awry” after Ahmadinejad was reportedly wounded in an Israeli strike on his home in Tehran.

The attack was intended to free Ahmadinejad from house arrest, but he survived and later changed his mind about the regime change plan. Since then, his whereabouts are unknown. The Times stated that US officials believed Ahmadinejad could lead Iran and manage its political, social, and military situation. However, after the incident, Ahmadinejad became disillusioned with the plan and stopped cooperating.

Ahmadinejad had previously clashed with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing him of corruption and sparking rumors about his loyalty. His movements were restricted, and his aides were arrested. People close to Ahmadinejad have been accused of having ties to the West or even spying for Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera