U.S and Israel planned postwar iran leadership shift with ahmadinejad

Wednesday 20 May 2026 - 16:01

By: Dakir Madiha

U.S and Israel planned postwar iran leadership shift with ahmadinejad

The United States and Israel reportedly developed a secret plan during the early stages of the 2026 war with Iran aimed at reshaping the country’s leadership after the expected removal of supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The plan, described in intelligence-linked reporting, included the possible installation of former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a transitional figure in Tehran.

The strategy formed part of coordinated military operations that began on 28 February 2026, involving extensive airstrikes targeting senior Iranian political and military figures. The campaign was presented as a rapid effort to destabilise the Iranian state and trigger internal collapse, opening space for a new governing structure aligned with external interests.

According to the reported outline, Ahmadinejad had been considered as a potential interim leader despite his long record of hostility toward the United States and Israel. He served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013 and had previously made statements calling for Israel’s destruction. Sources linked to the reporting indicated that he had been approached in relation to the scenario, although his current position remains unclear after the outbreak of hostilities.

The plan reportedly assumed that sustained air operations, combined with internal unrest and potential regional uprisings, would weaken the Islamic Republic’s institutions within days. That assessment proved inaccurate. Iranian authorities maintained command structures after Khamenei’s death, rapidly reorganising leadership and naming a succession framework that included senior political figures and the involvement of Mojtaba Khamenei.

Iran’s response to the strikes expanded the conflict across multiple fronts, with missile and drone attacks reaching targets in several Gulf countries hosting U.S. military facilities. The scale of retaliation complicated assumptions of a quick regime breakdown and contributed to the failure of expectations surrounding a swift political transition in Tehran.

The status of Ahmadinejad has not been confirmed since the beginning of the war. He has not appeared publicly, and his role in any succession planning remains unverified as the conflict continues to evolve.