Former Mossad chief David Barnea sought to recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a potential successor to the ayatollahs' regime in Iran The New York Times reported.
According to the report, the two met in Hungary for secret discussions in 2024, under cover of a climate conference at Hungary's Ludovika University of Public Service.
During the conference, members of Ahmadinejad's security detail reportedly noticed that he disappeared at least twice during the visit for lengthy meetings. When questioned, he claimed he had been meeting university professors.
Former US officials told NYT that Barnea personally traveled to Budapest to meet Ahmadinejad. The Mossad later informed the CIA that contact had been established, and Israeli intelligence allegedly financed some of Ahmadinejad's housing and travel expenses and continued meeting him outside Iran over the following years.
At the start of the war with Iran, Israel extracted Ahmadinejad and brought him to a safe location inside Iran. However, Ahmadinejad was shaken by the rescue operation and appeared disappointed by the alleged Israeli plan to restore him to power. He eventually left the safe house under circumstances that remain unclear.
Currently, Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the intelligence branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guards after authorities uncovered much of his alleged contact with Israel.
Both the Mossad and Ahmadinejad's spokesman declined comment to NYT.