Ahmadinejad Denies Mossad Recruitment Claims as Fabricated

The office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former president of Iran, has rejected a report from The New York Times that claimed the Mossad had recruited him for a regime-change initiative in Iran. The report alleged that David Barnea, the then-Mossad chief, traveled to Budapest to meet with Ahmadinejad as part of these recruitment efforts. In a statement reported by Iran International, Ahmadinejad's office described the claims as 'Hollywood-style' fake news, asserting that such allegations do not warrant a denial. They further criticized The New York Times for being known for publishing falsehoods and fabricating stories for financial compensation.

Additionally, Ahmadinejad's office refuted claims that he had been placed under house arrest, emphasizing that he remains active and continues his daily work. During his presidency from 2005 to 2013, Ahmadinejad was known for his hardline stance, which included accelerating Iran's uranium enrichment program and making inflammatory statements against Israel, including calls to wipe it off the map and denying the Holocaust. He previously stated that denying the Holocaust was his 'proudest moment' as president. In 2019, he claimed he is not antisemitic but opposes the 'Zionist government.' Ahmadinejad was recently seen at a funeral procession for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, marking his first public appearance in some time.