Ex-president of Iran arrested for links to Israel, says newspaper

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was arrested on suspicion of involvement with Israel, according to a report from The New York Times published this Monday (13.Jul.2026). Ahmadinejad ruled the country between 2005 and 2013.

According to the vehicle’s investigation, the plan was to overthrow the ayatollahs’ regime and, as a reward, Ahmadinejad would return to power in Iran. However, Ahmadinejad was detained after a rescue operation carried out by the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, failed.

Israel even took Ahmadinejad to a secret hiding place after the attacks that started the war between the United States and Iran on February 28. However, Ahmadinejad abandoned the plan and decided to abandon hiding.

Ahmadinejad was arrested after Iranian authorities discovered his ties to Israel. According to the NYT report, the intelligence division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps investigated the case and managed to uncover contacts between Ahmadinejad and the Mossad, including secret meetings in Budapest, Israeli financing for travel and housing and his involvement in the plan to overthrow the Iranian theocracy.

With the discovery, Revolutionary Guard intelligence detained the former president and placed him under house arrest. In March, international agencies reported that Ahmadinejad died after his home was hit by bombing on February 28. The death was not confirmed by the Iranian government, and was contradicted by Iranian newspapers shortly afterwards.

Despite having a president, Iran is truly commanded by the supreme leader and ayatollah, the highest political and religious authority. Mojtaba Khamenei currently holds the post. He succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who died in February 2026 at the start of the attacks.