Speculation has emerged regarding the alleged involvement of the US and Israel in efforts to unseat the Iranian regime, with claims that Israel sought to elevate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a position of power. Ahmadinejad’s presidency, which spanned from 2005 to 2013, was characterized by fierce rhetoric against Israel. However, after a fallout with Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, he sought to reinvent himself as a critic of the regime and an advocate for the impoverished. Reports suggest Israel may have bombed a security building near his residence in Tehran to facilitate his escape from house arrest, though Ahmadinejad is said to have expressed discomfort with the operation.
The incident, reported without confirmation from official sources, has been dismissed by many as either implausible or a deliberate spread of misinformation by Ahmadinejad’s supporters or Israeli intelligence. Nonetheless, the event underscores a potential overestimation by the US and Israel of their capacity to topple the Iranian regime through military strikes alone. Amid rising domestic concerns over fuel prices, then-President Donald Trump was reportedly looking to distance the US from the conflict but did not rule out further airstrikes to pressure Tehran into meeting US demands.
Trump, during a press conference, indicated he had postponed additional strikes following counsel from Gulf leaders. However, discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were ongoing about potentially resuming hostilities. When questioned about Israel’s actions against Iran, Trump expressed confidence in Netanyahu’s alignment with US interests. The US President also voiced a desire for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while downplaying any urgency linked to the midterm elections.
Iran’s leadership, believing its grip on Western economies was strengthening, maintained its stance against US demands regarding uranium enrichment. Tehran aimed to focus discussions on lifting sanctions in exchange for lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as opposed to deliberations on its nuclear ambitions. In response, the US imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports to hinder oil shipments, primarily directed to China, Iran’s main export market. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of broader regional conflict if US attacks resumed.
The Iranian media approached the claims with skepticism, asserting that Ahmadinejad had not been under house arrest. During the initial Israeli strikes on Tehran, reports mistakenly claimed that Ahmadinejad had perished; it was later confirmed that only a security outpost near his residence had been hit. Although Ahmadinejad sustained minor injuries, his bodyguards were killed. Despite the tensions, Ahmadinejad’s previous hostility towards Israel, including Holocaust denial, makes an alliance with Netanyahu unlikely. His strained relationship with Khamenei led to his diminished political influence, and he has been barred from future presidential candidacies. Recently, his rare appearance in Hungary, a pro-Israel nation, marks a significant shift in his international engagements since leaving office.