Israel denied orchestrating plot to install Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Israel has been engaged in a long-term covert operation to position former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a successor to the current Iranian leadership. The New York Times reported that Israel has spent years orchestrating efforts to install Ahmadinejad, a figure known for his hardline anti-Israel rhetoric during his presidency.

According to the reports, these alleged Israeli operations included clandestine meetings with Ahmadinejad, offering him financial support, and even intervening during an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran. The newspaper detailed an incident on February 28, where Israeli agents purportedly rescued Ahmadinejad from his bombed home and moved him to a safe house, an act that reportedly left him disillusioned with Israel's machinations.

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The reports are 'Hollywood-style claims' aimed at damaging his reputation and are an example of 'psychological warfare' against the public.

These claims have been met with a strong rebuttal from Ahmadinejad's camp. A statement released on his social media channels dismissed the reports as baseless "Hollywood-style claims" intended to damage his reputation and engage in psychological warfare against the public. The statement, issued in the name of the former president's office, also denied that Ahmadinejad was under house arrest, though his current status remains unconfirmed.

Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, previously advocated for a strong anti-US and anti-Israel stance, famously stating Israel should be "wiped off the map." However, in his post-presidency years, he has reportedly clashed with Iran's clerical establishment and softened his anti-Israel rhetoric. The New York Times, citing Iranian officials, reported that Ahmadinejad had been detained and placed under house arrest by the intelligence unit of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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The New York Times spokesperson responded to Ahmadinejad's denial by stating, 'The office of former Iranian President Ahmadinejad has made clearly false accusations against our report in an attempt to manipulate public opinion.'