Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Espionage Controversy: From Presidency to Treason Charges

Today, July 13, 2026, investigative reports have been published in the "Türkiye" newspaper and the "New York Times" claiming that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, has served as a "key intelligence source" for Mossad for years. According to these reports, Israel intended, as part of a long-term plan, to appoint Ahmadinejad as the new leader of Iran following a potential overthrow of the current government [1][2].

Secret Meetings in Budapest and Climate Conference Cover According to revealed details, the turning point of this cooperation occurred in 2024 during a climate change conference at Ludovika University in Budapest. It is said that this conference was merely a cover for a face-to-face meeting between Ahmadinejad and David Barnea, the then-head of Mossad [3]. Reports indicate that the Hungarian government, at the request of senior security officials, sent an official invitation to Ahmadinejad to facilitate this sensitive meeting. It is also alleged that Ahmadinejad received significant amounts of cash for his travel and accommodation expenses from Mossad agents [1][5].

Failed Escape Operation and Arrest by the Revolutionary Guards During the onset of military conflicts between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition in February 2026, a plan was executed to extract Ahmadinejad from Tehran. On February 28, coinciding with airstrikes on his residence and security team, a black Peugeot carrying Mossad agents attempted to transfer him to a safe house [3]. However, this operation failed, and Iranian security officials have now confirmed that Ahmadinejad was arrested by the intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guards and is under strict house arrest [2][6].

Historical Irony; Infiltration at the Highest Levels These revelations come as Ahmadinejad had previously claimed in 2021 and 2024 that the highest official responsible for fighting Israeli infiltration in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence was a Mossad spy [4]. Now, with the release of new documents, it appears his previous claims were part of a more complex game to divert public opinion or stemmed from his awareness of the infiltration networks of which he himself had become a part [5].

Current Status and Political Consequences Currently, following the death of Iran's leader earlier this year and the continuation of military tensions, Ahmadinejad's case has become one of the most sensitive security challenges. Analysts believe that Israel's attempt to use a formerly hardline figure as a pawn for regime change demonstrates the depth of intelligence infiltration across various layers of power [7]. While Ahmadinejad's spokespeople have declined to comment, Iranian social media is filled with angry reactions from citizens describing this act as a great betrayal of the country.