Israel's intelligence arm, Mossad, reportedly reached out to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after his 2013 exit from office, seeking to exploit his estrangement from Tehran's current leadership. American, Iranian and former intelligence officials disclosed that the covert outreach aimed to position Ahmadinejad as a counter‑weight to Iran's hard‑line establishment.

Background and Motivation

During his 2005‑2013 tenure, Ahmadinejad pursued an aggressive foreign policy, championing Iran's nuclear ambitions and confronting the West. International sanctions and diplomatic isolation followed, straining Iran's economy. When he stepped down, internal rifts emerged as he fell out with the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guard, turning him into a political outcast.

Mossad's Strategy

Seeing an opportunity, Mossad allegedly offered Ahmadinejad financial backing, media platforms and potential security cooperation. The objective was two‑fold: fragment Iran's internal consensus and create a Tehran‑friendly figure who could moderate Tehran’s nuclear stance, thereby advancing Israel's security interests.

Why the Plot Crumbled

Iranian security services quickly identified the overtures, tightening surveillance on Ahmadinejad and his associates. Moreover, Iran’s political elite framed the proposal as an affront to national sovereignty, rallying public and institutional opposition. Ahmadinejad, wary of being a pawn, ultimately rejected the overtures, leaving Mossad’s gambit dead on arrival.

Implications for the Region

The failure underscores the limits of external powers reshaping Iran's internal politics. While Israel continues to employ covert tactics to counter Tehran, this episode highlights the resilience of Iran’s power structures and the heightened risk of backlash. Future Israeli operations will likely demand more subtlety and deeper local alliances.