By American and Israeli officials reportedly discussed former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a possible successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the early stages of the conflict with Iran, according to reports citing U.S. sources.
The New York Times reported that Ahmadinejad, long known for his hostility toward the United States and Israel, emerged as an unexpected figure in discussions about a potential post-Khamenei government. Israeli forces reportedly launched airstrikes intended to free him from house arrest, but the operation failed and left him injured.
The idea immediately raised concerns because of Ahmadinejad’s record. In a 2005 speech at a Tehran conference titled “The World without Zionism,” he called for “a world without America” and declared, “As the Imam said, Israel must be wiped off the map,” referring to Ayatollah Khomeini.
During Ahmadinejad’s presidency, Iran also continued advancing its nuclear program. Earlier congressional records said the regime engaged in the covert importation of nuclear material and conducted more than 110 experiments related to uranium production.
The Trump administration has defended the broader military campaign, known as Operation Epic Fury, as a success. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the operation met the administration’s central military objectives.
“From the outset, President Trump was clear about his goals for Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles, dismantle their production facilities, sink their navy, and weaken their proxies. The United States Military met or exceeded all of its objectives, and now, our negotiators are working to make a deal that would end Iran’s nuclear capabilities for good,” Kelly said.
Still, some U.S. officials reportedly expressed reservations about Ahmadinejad because of his long record of anti-American statements.
The conflict began on February 28 and has cost the United States roughly $25 billion so far, according to testimony from a Department of War official. Public support has also declined. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that 60% of American adults oppose the war, while the fighting has contributed to major disruptions in global oil markets.
Trump has said his focus remains fixed on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Asked on May 12 about domestic concerns connected to the conflict, he said: “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran, they cannot have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all.”
Trump also discussed Iran during a recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official said the two leaders “agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” Xi also reportedly expressed opposition to militarization in the Strait and interest in purchasing more U.S. oil.
A noted fan of Michigan football, Ahmadinejad suffered a leg injury during the Israeli operation, but his condition is stable, according to an Iranian news outlet citing one of his former advisers. He has not been seen publicly since the strikes, and his current location remains unknown.
[Read More: Another Democrat Caught Boosting China]
