Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reportedly been placed under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after an alleged Israeli effort to position him as a replacement for Iran’s current theocratic leadership failed, according to a new report.
The New York Times, citing four Iranian officials, reported Monday that Ahmadinejad, 69, is now being held by the intelligence arm of the IRGC after leaving a safe house allegedly operated by Israel’s Mossad.
Ahmadinejad had not appeared publicly before last week since an Israeli airstrike struck his compound in the early hours of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, the Times reported, citing U.S. and Iranian officials. After the attack, he was reportedly moved to the safe house.
The former president, who led Iran from 2005 to 2013, resurfaced last week during funeral ceremonies for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed the same day as the strike on Ahmadinejad’s compound. Ahmadinejad appeared to be accompanied by security personnel at the ceremony.
