A report by The New York Times has made a striking claim about alleged US and Israeli plans during the Iran conflict.
It suggests former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was considered in a broader strategy to reshape Iran’s leadership.
The report also states the plan ultimately failed after unexpected developments.
The New York Times reported that the United States and Israel entered the conflict with the intention of reshaping Iran’s leadership structure.
According to the report, officials briefed on the plan described it as an “audacious” attempt to influence post-conflict leadership outcomes.
The newspaper claimed former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was being considered in discussions about potential leadership alternatives.
The idea, according to the report, was compared to political transitions seen in other countries, though it described the approach as highly unusual.
Claims of internal turmoil and changing plans
The report stated that after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump allegedly suggested that leadership should come from within Iran.
The plan, however, reportedly began to fall apart soon after.
The newspaper said officials described the strategy as initially ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful, with events on the ground moving in unexpected directions.
Ahmadinejad’s role and political background
The report highlighted that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had a long political history.
He served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and was known for:
- Strong opposition to the United States
- Support for Iran’s nuclear program
- Hardline rhetoric against Israel
- Crackdowns on domestic dissent
The article also noted that despite past tensions with Iran’s leadership, Ahmadinejad later made remarks suggesting openness to improved relations with the United States, including comments praising Donald Trump in a 2019 interview.
The NYT report further claimed that Ahmadinejad was reportedly wounded during an Israeli strike on his residence in Tehran, which was allegedly aimed at freeing him from house arrest.
It added that while he survived the strike, he later distanced himself from the reported plan and has not been publicly located since.
An earlier report cited in the article described the strike as an “attempted jailbreak operation,” according to unnamed associates.
The report also noted that Ahmadinejad had increasingly fallen out of favor within Iran’s political system.
It said:
- He was disqualified from multiple presidential elections
- Several of his aides were arrested
- His movements were increasingly restricted
- Allegations emerged regarding Western links within his circle
The article added that his political stance and associations had become a subject of internal scrutiny over time.
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