Israel spent several years attempting to recruit former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of a broader effort to position him as Iran's future leader, but the operation ultimately failed after the collapse of a plan to overthrow the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported.

Citing U.S. and Iranian officials familiar with the covert operation, the newspaper said Israeli intelligence maintained secret contacts with Ahmadinejad over several years, culminating in an attempt to extract him from house arrest during the opening hours of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran in February.

According to the report, Israeli forces struck Ahmadinejad's security detail on the first day of the offensive, allowing him to leave house arrest. He was then taken by car to a safe house arranged by Israeli intelligence.

However, Ahmadinejad later left the safe house after becoming disillusioned with Israel's broader plan to install him as Iran's new leader, the newspaper reported.

His current whereabouts remain unclear. The New York Times said Ahmadinejad briefly appeared at the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, surrounded by masked security personnel while wearing a heavy coat. The newspaper reported that he is believed to be in the custody of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) because of suspected ties to Israeli intelligence.

The report said the recruitment effort included at least two clandestine meetings between Ahmadinejad and Mossad Director David Barnea.

One meeting reportedly took place in Budapest in 2024 under the cover of an international climate conference hosted by Hungary's Ludovika University of Public Service.

According to the newspaper, the university's rector, Professor Gergely Deli, was approached by a senior Hungarian government official and instructed to invite Ahmadinejad to the conference. The official allegedly told Deli that the academic event would serve as cover for secret meetings between the former Iranian president and Israeli intelligence operatives.

Deli acknowledged concerns that the invitation could damage both his reputation and that of the university but said he agreed because he believed facilitating dialogue between adversaries could help prevent further bloodshed.

"When two enemies want to talk, you should do whatever you can to help them talk," Deli told the newspaper.

The report said Ahmadinejad returned to Budapest for another secret meeting with Israeli agents in June 2025, only days before Israel launched its 12-day military campaign against Iran. During that trip, he reportedly managed to evade his IRGC security escorts twice.

According to the newspaper, Israel covered Ahmadinejad's travel and accommodation expenses throughout the operation.

Israeli intelligence also allegedly established contact with Ahmadinejad during a 2023 environmental conference in Guatemala.

The report said Iranian security authorities initially prevented him from traveling, but reversed their decision after social media campaigns and a sit-in protest generated public pressure.

Ahmadinejad served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, during which he became internationally known for repeatedly denying the Holocaust, calling for Israel's destruction and suggesting Iran could develop nuclear weapons if it chose to do so.

Following the end of his presidency, Iranian authorities repeatedly barred him from contesting subsequent elections.

In recent years, however, Ahmadinejad increasingly distanced himself from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's leadership, openly criticizing senior officials for corruption and mismanagement while portraying himself as a champion of ordinary Iranians.

According to The New York Times, Ahmadinejad ultimately concluded that returning to power through Iran's existing political system was impossible and began viewing foreign intervention as his best opportunity to regain leadership.

A close associate told the newspaper Ahmadinejad considered himself a reformer and believed Iran would recognize Israel if he returned to power.

The associate also said Ahmadinejad feared the United States and Israel might instead install an outsider to lead Iran, potentially plunging the country into chaos.

The broader Israeli effort was reportedly tied to plans to topple Iran's ruling establishment, including hopes that a Kurdish uprising would weaken the regime during the military campaign.

Those plans ultimately failed, however, and Iran's leadership remained firmly in power, the newspaper said.