Key facts
- Israel reportedly attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a future post-regime government in Iran.
- The operation, codenamed 'Operation Puss in Boots,' involved meetings between Ahmadinejad and Mossad chief David Barnea.
- Israeli officials allegedly provided financial support for Ahmadinejad's housing and travel.
- Ahmadinejad was reportedly extracted by Mossad agents following a strike near his Tehran home.
- He later disappeared from a safe house and is believed to be in the custody of Iran's IRGC intelligence wing.
Israel reportedly attempted to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a post-regime government in Tehran, according to media reports citing U.S. and Israeli officials. The remarkable effort, which began in 2022, involved Mossad chief David Barnea traveling to Hungary to meet Ahmadinejad, who had previously denied the Holocaust and called for Israel's destruction.
Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza against Hamas, a key Iranian ally, the recruitment drive reportedly continued. Israeli officials allegedly provided financial support for Ahmadinejad's housing and travel, with Mossad operatives meeting him multiple times. The operation, codenamed 'Operation Puss in Boots,' faced internal disagreements within Israel, with former national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi dismissing the plans as 'wild fantasies' and the IDF chief of staff ordering a halt, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly overrode these objections.
The reports emerged amid speculation about Ahmadinejad's fate after alleged Israeli and U.S. military strikes on February 28 killed several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ahmadinejad was reportedly driven from his home by Mossad agents after a strike near his residence and kept in a safe house. However, he later disappeared under mysterious circumstances and is believed to have been taken into custody by Iran's IRGC intelligence wing.
Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, had become increasingly critical of the Iranian regime and its policies, including international sanctions. He also underwent an image makeover and began moderating his hardline rhetoric. However, his past actions, including sponsoring a conference questioning the Holocaust, make the recruitment effort particularly striking.