U.S. and Israel Considered Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad for Regime Change Role

S. S. officials. The operations, named "Operations Roaring Lion" and "Epic Fury," aimed to place Ahmadinejad in charge of managing Iran's political, social, and military situation. The plan was developed by Israel and involved direct consultation with Ahmadinejad.

Ahmadinejad served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013 and was known for his hard-line, anti-Israel and anti-American positions. He had been barred three times from running for president by Iran's Guardian Council in 2017, 2021, and 2024. Following his 2017 disqualification, Ahmadinejad became a vocal critic of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Reports indicated his freedom of movement was restricted and he was under house arrest by the start of the operations.

The plan collapsed after an Israeli strike on Ahmadinejad's home in Tehran on the first day of the conflict. The strike was intended to free him from house arrest but instead wounded him. " — New York Times report, May 20, 2026 Ahmadinejad survived the strike but became disillusioned with the regime change effort afterward. His current condition and whereabouts remain unknown.

The New York Times report states that Ahmadinejad had praised President Trump in a 2019 interview and argued for rapprochement between Tehran and Washington. He described Trump as "a man of action" capable of calculating cost-benefits. Since the strike, Ahmadinejad has delivered public addresses, including a congratulatory message on Mojtaba Khamenei's rise to supreme leader after his father was killed.

The report has drawn widespread skepticism, with commentators across the political spectrum questioning its plausibility and the decision to publish details that could endanger associates of Ahmadinejad.