US, Israel Reportedly Plotted to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran Leader

Reports reveal a secret plan by the United States and Israel to install former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's new leader, a strategy that reportedly went awry.

20 May, 12:51 — 20 May, 18:09

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Why this matters

This story reveals a highly controversial and potentially destabilizing covert operation by the US and Israel, suggesting an attempt to manipulate leadership in a hostile nation. It highlights the complex and often clandestine nature of international relations and regime change efforts, particularly concerning a figure as controversial as Ahmadinejad.

Key entitiesMahmoud Ahmadinejad United States Israel Iran New York Times

The Story

What 9 sources agree on, dispute, and miss

What sources agree on

The US and Israel reportedly planned to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader.
The plan was part of a regime change effort during a war with Iran.
The plot ultimately failed.
Ahmadinejad was injured in an attack intended to free him from house arrest.

Key claims4 agreed · 1 unverified

✓

The US and Israel planned to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader.

agreed·The Guardianindex-hrdanasluxemburger-wortdnevnik-bg+4

✓

The plan was initiated during a war with Iran.

agreed·index-hrdanasluxemburger-wortdnevnik-bgdie-presse+3

✓

Ahmadinejad was injured in an attack meant to free him from house arrest.

agreed·index-hrThe Independentdennik-ndie-presse

✓

The plan failed after Ahmadinejad was injured and subsequently withdrew.

agreed·index-hrdanasdnevnik-bgdie-pressedennik-n

President Donald Trump publicly considered that 'someone from within' would be best for Iran after the Supreme Leader was killed.

unverified·danas

Coverage gaps

The specific authors of the New York Times article (Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes, Farnaz Fassihi, and Ronen Bergman)

Reporteddennik-n

MissingThe Guardianindex-hrdanas+5

The context of Ahmadinejad's falling out with the Tehran regime as a reason for his involvement

ReportedThe Guardian

Missingindex-hrdanasluxemburger-wort+5

The Story

Analyzing sources…

Source Diversity

Excellent (84/100)

9 sources33/33

Spectrum spread— 3/5 buckets covered17/33

Far L2

Far Left (2)

The GuardianThe Independent

Left4

Left (4)

index-hrdanasdnevnik-bgdennik-n

Center

Right3

Right (3)

luxemburger-wortdie-pressenzz

Far R

Geographic diversity— 8 regions34/34

UK2Croatia1Serbia1Luxembourg1Bulgaria1Austria1Switzerland1Slovakia1

Sources

Showing 2 of 9 sources

The GuardianMostly Factual39m ago

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the US and Israel’s unlikely choice to lead Iran

Populist former president’s falling-out with the Tehran regime allegedly drew him into a takeover plot US and Israel hoped to install Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader For all their outward differences, there always seemed to be things that linked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Donald Trump. A visit to the then Iranian president’s rather humble Tehran neighbourhood nearly 20 years ago highlighted cost of living problems that prefigured those facing Trump now. Continue reading...

By Robert Tait in Washington

Read full article →

The IndependentMostly Factual5h ago

US and Israel planned to install Iran’s hardline former president as new leader after war: report

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was injured in an Israeli strike on his home that was launched to free him from house arrest, according to reports

By Maira Butt

Read full article →

Coverage Timeline

First report: dennik-n · 20 May, 12:07|Full coverage: 9 · 6h|Window: 6h

Left-leaningCenterRight-leaning

dennik-n20 May, 12:07First to report

Izrael a USA šli do vojny s plánom dosadiť Ahmadínedžáda. Zranili ho skôr, ako stihol prevziať moc (čítanie z New York Times)

The Independent20 May, 12:51

US and Israel planned to install Iran’s hardline former president as new leader after war: report

nzz20 May, 13:44

Mahmud Ahmadinejad als neuer starker Mann in Iran? Israel und die USA verfolgten offenbar heimliche Kriegsziele

die-presse20 May, 14:04

USA wollten Holocaust-Leugner Ahmadinejad an die Spitze von Irans Regime installieren [premium]

dnevnik-bg20 May, 14:31

САЩ и Израел искали да издигнат на власт бивш президент на Иран, но всичко се объркало

luxemburger-wort20 May, 14:45

Warum Trump und Netanjahu im Iran-Krieg ausgerechnet auf einen Holocaust-Leugner setzten

danas20 May, 14:58

Njujork tajms: SAD i Izrael su počeli rat protiv Irana sa jednom konkretnom osobom na umu, plan je krenuo po zlu

index-hr20 May, 15:17

Trump i Izrael žele da Ahmadinedžad vodi Iran. Probali ga osloboditi, skoro ga ubili

3h later

The Guardian20 May, 18:09Latest update

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the US and Israel’s unlikely choice to lead Iran

Story evolution

The narrative shifted from a general revelation of the plot to including specific details about its failure due to Ahmadinejad's injury and his subsequent withdrawal, and later to exploring the surprising choice of Ahmadinejad himself.

Initial ReportingMay 20 morning

Early reports, primarily citing the New York Times, disclose the alleged US-Israeli plot to install Ahmadinejad.

Details EmergeMay 20 afternoon

Subsequent reports add details about Ahmadinejad's injury during a liberation attempt and his subsequent withdrawal from the plan.

ContextualizationMay 20 evening

Later reports begin to contextualize Ahmadinejad's unlikely role, noting his populist appeal and falling out with the Iranian regime.

PERSPECTA

PERSPECTA

US, Israel Reportedly Plotted to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran Leader

Why this matters

The Story

What sources agree on

Key claims4 agreed · 1 unverified

Coverage gaps

The Story

Source Diversity

Source Diversity

Sources

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the US and Israel’s unlikely choice to lead Iran

US and Israel planned to install Iran’s hardline former president as new leader after war: report

Coverage Timeline

Izrael a USA šli do vojny s plánom dosadiť Ahmadínedžáda. Zranili ho skôr, ako stihol prevziať moc (čítanie z New York Times)

US and Israel planned to install Iran’s hardline former president as new leader after war: report

Mahmud Ahmadinejad als neuer starker Mann in Iran? Israel und die USA verfolgten offenbar heimliche Kriegsziele

USA wollten Holocaust-Leugner Ahmadinejad an die Spitze von Irans Regime installieren [premium]

САЩ и Израел искали да издигнат на власт бивш президент на Иран, но всичко се объркало

Warum Trump und Netanjahu im Iran-Krieg ausgerechnet auf einen Holocaust-Leugner setzten

Njujork tajms: SAD i Izrael su počeli rat protiv Irana sa jednom konkretnom osobom na umu, plan je krenuo po zlu

Trump i Izrael žele da Ahmadinedžad vodi Iran. Probali ga osloboditi, skoro ga ubili

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the US and Israel’s unlikely choice to lead Iran

Story evolution

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PERSPECTA

Why this matters

Story evolution

The Story

What sources agree on

Key claims4 agreed · 1 unverified

Coverage gaps

Coverage matrix