Arabic version: خطة الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل لتثبيت أحمدي نجاد تتفكك في إيران

The United States and Israel went into war on Iran intending to replace the regime’s leadership with hardline former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to a report by The New York Times. This audacious plan, which has surprised many given Ahmadinejad’s historical opposition to US and Israeli policies, quickly fell apart after the war commenced.

According to Al Jazeera, the plan was set in motion after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. US President Donald Trump suggested that a leader from within Iran would be best suited to take control of the country. Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, was known for his anti-Israel rhetoric and support for Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

However, the operation faced immediate challenges. Ahmadinejad was reportedly wounded on the first day of the war by an Israeli strike on his home in Tehran, which was intended to free him from house arrest. Although he survived the strike, he subsequently became disillusioned with the regime change initiative and has not been located since.

The airstrike, described by some as a “jailbreak operation,” was confirmed by an associate of Ahmadinejad who indicated that the former president recognized it as an attempt to free him. Despite escaping house arrest, Ahmadinejad ceased cooperation with the US-Israeli plan after realizing the true nature of their intentions.

Ahmadinejad’s relationship with the Iranian regime had been fraught with tension, particularly with Khamenei, whom he accused of corruption. Over the years, he faced growing restrictions on his movements and was disqualified from various presidential elections, leading to questions about his loyalties and connections with the West, including allegations of espionage for Israel.