Two separate reports, one by The New York Times and another by Israeli daily Haaretz, have reignited debate over Israel's alleged plans for regime change in Iran. The reports claim Israeli officials explored installing former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a figurehead in a post-Islamic Republic scenario.

According to the reports, efforts allegedly intensified during the war and involved secret contacts in Hungary. David Barnea, former chief of Mossad, purportedly oversaw part of the contact effort, including a meeting in Budapest. The operation allegedly included infiltration plans inside Iran and contacts with minority groups.

Ahmadinejad's office has rejected the claims as 'absurd' and 'completely false.' However, analysts say the reports reveal the wider information war surrounding Iran, where even implausible stories can be useful if they unsettle enough people.

Political analyst Babak Dorbeiki noted that Ahmadinejad still has a social base but has been sidelined from real power since 2010. 'Even if the reporting is correct, it shows he was one option under consideration, not that he is about to return to power,' he said.

Former Shiite cleric Vahid Heroabadi argued that outside powers seeking regime change usually look for figures connected to the IRGC, which Ahmadinejad lacks. The reports, he said, are more about narratives and perception than political reality.

Source: www.dw.com