---
title: 'Israeli War Plan Sought to Install Ahmadinejad in Iran: Report'
url: 'https://thediplomaticinsight.com/israeli-war-plan-sought-install-ahmadinejad-iran/'
author: 'News Desk'
date: '2026-05-20T11:44:11+05:00'
categories:
  - 'Featured'
  - 'Middle East'
  - 'World'
tags:
  - 'Iran'
  - 'Israel'
  - 'Kurdish'
  - 'Mahmoud Ahmadinejad'
  - 'War'
---

# Israeli War Plan Sought to Install Ahmadinejad in Iran: Report

**Tehran (TDI):** In the early stages of the US-Israeli war with Iran, officials explored a plan to reinstall former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, New York Times reported citing US sources.

The proposal, developed by the Israelis, included a high-risk strike intended to free Ahmadinejad from house arrest in the capital city Tehran, as well as the use of Kurdish forces and the bombing of energy infrastructure to force regime collapse.

The report says Israeli planners explored the possibility of leveraging Ahmadinejad’s falling-out with Iran’s current establishment. In recent years, he has had disputes with senior clerics and institutions, faced political restrictions, and at times been placed under restrictions or house arrest.

US officials reportedly said that early discussions even considered whether he could be positioned as a “from within” alternative leader if Iran’s system were destabilized during the conflict. The idea was tied to a wider strategy that assumed internal fractures could follow major strikes on Iran’s leadership structure.

**Read More: [Iran Proposes Sanctions Relief, US Forces’ Pullout in New Peace Proposal](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/iran-proposes-sanctions-relief-us-forces-pullout-in-peace-proposal/)**

The report also claims that an Israeli strike early in the conflict hit the area where Ahmadinejad was being held under security restrictions, allegedly intended to eliminate guards and potentially facilitate his removal. He was reportedly injured in the incident but survived, while initial media reports incorrectly suggested he had been killed.

However, the plan did not progress as intended. According to the same reporting, Iran’s political structure remained largely intact despite the initial shock of the strikes, and expectations of rapid internal collapse or leadership replacement did not materialize.

US intelligence and policy officials were reportedly divided on the feasibility of the idea from the beginning, with skepticism about whether Ahmadinejad, given his controversial political legacy, could realistically unify Iran or gain legitimacy domestically.

**Read More: [Dar Reaffirms Pakistan’s Commitment to Stronger Ties with Iran](https://thediplomaticinsight.com/dar-reaffirms-pakistans-commitment-stronger-ties-iran/)**

Ahmadinejad himself has taken a complex political path in recent years, becoming more critical of Iran’s leadership while still maintaining his broader ideological positions. At various points, he has signaled openness to dialogue with foreign actors, but has also been barred from returning to high office.

Overall, the report highlights how early war planning extended beyond military operations into speculative political scenarios that ultimately failed to materialize on the ground.