JAKARTA - Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied allegations of links with Israeli intelligence to support his return to power.
Ahmadinejad's office rejected The New York Times' report that he was under house arrest by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as fake news and shared recent photos of Ahmadinejad walking in the streets.
The report accuses the former president, who has run for office at least five times over the past two decades, of holding meetings with Israeli intelligence officials to discuss receiving support for a return to power.
It added that, in return, Ahmdinejad offered Israel services.
The case follows months of speculation surrounding IRGC Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, whose loyalty has been repeatedly questioned in unverified reports suggesting links to Israel.
The commander has over the past three years earned a reputation for escaping unhurt in enemy attacks, while many around him have been killed.
Since the war with Israel in June 2025, Iran has arrested and executed dozens of people accused of spying for Israel.
The assassination of several senior military and political figures, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, revealed the depth of Israeli intelligence penetration in the country.
"The lack of credibility of the newspaper and the absurdity of the scenario it presents means that the newspaper is not worthy of being responded to," Ahmadinejad's office said, launching The National (15/7).
The office issued a lengthy rebuttal to the report, which was based on US, Israeli, and Iranian sources.
"Although we continue to believe that Hollywood-style claims are not worth refuting, given the sensitive state of the country and to thwart the plans of Iran's enemies, we categorically reject all the completely false accusations of the newspaper," he said.
"We announce to the dear and honorable Iranian people that their beloved and loyal son remains steadfast and dignified, as usual, carrying out his daily affairs and serving every one of them," the statement said.
The statement on Telegram was concluded with a link to an Instagram account showing the former president meeting with several Iranian officials and walking the streets.
According to The New York Times, Ahmadinejad met with a Mossad leader in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The report also claims that during the war the Israeli agents moved Ahmadinejad from Tehran to a safe house as part of a broader regime change plan.
Furthermore, the report accuses Iranian authorities of then placing him under house arrest after uncovering several alleged contacts with Israel.
There have been similar allegations involving people around Ahmadinejad, but this is the first report to accuse the former president himself of having direct contact with Israel or being part of an Israeli-backed political plan.
The populist Ahmadinejad served as president from 2005 to 2013. He is considered a hardliner and was sanctioned by the US in 2023 for detaining American citizens in Tehran's notorious Evin prison.
During his tenure, Ahmadinejad was accused of human rights violations and implementing economic policies that weakened the Iranian rial and hampered economic growth.
He has also accelerated Tehran's nuclear program and hinted at building a nuclear weapon.
His re-election in 2009, seen by his opponents as the result of fraud, triggered the Green Movement protests, which at the time were the largest protests in Iranian history.
Ahmadinejad tried to run for another term in 2017, defying the late Supreme Leader, who said the move would be detrimental to the country.
He was later disqualified from the nomination for criticizing Khamenei and calling for "free elections."
In 2021, he registered to run for president once again, but was again prevented. He also registered for the 2024 general election after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
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