The United States and Israel developed a plan to install former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader following Israeli airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials on February 28, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The plan was approved by the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and involved consulting Ahmadinejad, who was under house arrest at the time [1, 3].
Israeli airstrikes targeted Ahmadinejad’s residence in Tehran on the first day of the war, intending to free him from house arrest and enable the regime change. Instead, the strikes injured Ahmadinejad, derailing the plan [1, 2, 3]. Since then, he has not been publicly seen, and his current condition and whereabouts remain unknown [1, 3].
Ahmadinejad, who was president from 2005 to 2013, was known for hardline, anti-Israel, and anti-American views, including calls to "wipe Israel off the map" [1, 2, 3]. In recent years, he had fallen out with Iran’s regime and was reportedly kept under close watch and house arrest [1, 4, 2]. Some US officials expressed skepticism about the viability of reinstalling him as leader [1].
US President Donald Trump described Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as someone who "will do whatever I want him to do. He’s a great guy, To me he is a great guy," reflecting close coordination on actions against Iran [4]. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump’s goals for Operation Epic Fury included destroying Iran’s ballistic missiles, dismantling their production facilities, sinking their navy, and weakening Iranian proxies [1].
Following domestic unrest tied to gas prices, Trump delayed further airstrikes after intervention by Gulf leaders but continued discussions about possible resumed attacks as of mid-May 2026 [4]. Ahmadinejad has not been seen publicly since the initial strikes in late February.
The initial Israeli strikes on February 28 killed Supreme Leader Khamenei along with other senior officials and aimed to capture Ahmadinejad at the same time [1, 2, 3]. The plan to install Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader emerged during the early days of the war in February and March 2026 [1, 3].
Conflicting accounts exist on whether Ahmadinejad was under house arrest during the conflict. Some sources say he was under house arrest and that a nearby security building was bombed to aid his escape; Iranian media deny he was detained [4]. Likewise, while some question the plan’s credibility, US and Israeli sources maintain it was a serious regime change effort [1, 2, 3]. [4]
The status of the plan remains uncertain after Ahmadinejad’s injury and disappearance from public view. Discussions between Trump and Netanyahu about further military action against Iran continue into May 2026 [4].
