Ex-Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said to be under house arrest over reported Israeli contacts

Key Points:

• Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been placed under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following a failed Israeli plot to reinstate him in power, according to a New York Times report citing Iranian officials.
• Ahmadinejad was reportedly held by the IRGC’s intelligence wing after leaving a Mossad-run safe house, following an Israeli airstrike on his compound during Operation Epic Fury on February 28.
• The former president, known for his hardline stance and controversial policies during his 2005-2013 tenure, had increasingly clashed with Iran’s ruling regime and was blocked from running for office multiple times since leaving power.
• Ahmadinejad allegedly made contact with Israeli intelligence as early as 2023, including meetings facilitated in Budapest with Mossad officials, signaling his ambition to regain power and potentially normalize relations with Israel.
• Despite speculation about financial motives, a former adviser stated Ahmadinejad’s actions were driven by a desire for power rather than money, emphasizing his intent to return to leadership.