Is Ahmadinejad Becoming the Mossad's New "Angel"?

If you're a fan of thrilling spy films and even more captivating true stories from the world of real-life 007s, stick with me until the end. You won't be disappointed.

One might not have expected Ashraf Marwan to become one of Israel's most prized agents. An Egyptian by birth, Marwan was married to Mona Nasser, daughter of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, giving him privileged access to the inner circles of power in Cairo. Following Nasser's death, Marwan became a crucial ally to President Anwar el-Sadat.

Despite these ties, in 1970 Marwan reached out to the Israeli embassy in London, offering valuable information to the Mossad. Dubbed "The Angel," he provided Israel with military plans, details on Egyptian weaponry, and insights into Sadat's dialogues with Soviet leaders. Just before the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Marwan warned of an impending attack by Egypt and Syria. Although Israel received his alert, their military leaders did not act with the urgency required.

The true allegiance of Marwan remains a topic of debate. While some former Israeli officials regard him as one of the Mossad's greatest assets, many Egyptians believe he was a double agent who misled Israel, aiding the initial success of the 1973 offensive. Marwan's life ended under mysterious circumstances in London in 2007, when he fell from the balcony of his residence. Egypt honored him as a national hero at his funeral.

The Unlikely Parallel: Ahmadinejad and Mossad

Over fifty years later, an extraordinary new espionage tale poses an intriguing question: Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad emerging as the Mossad's next "Angel"?

At first glance, the comparison seems far-fetched. Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran's president from 2005 to 2013, was one of the most vehemently anti-Israel leaders of the Islamic Republic. He publicly denied the Holocaust, championed Iran's nuclear ambitions, and consistently portrayed Israel as a chief adversary.

However, reports credited to The New York Times and Israeli newspaper Haaretz suggest that the Mossad sought to recruit the former Iranian president as a significant political asset. Their ultimate aim was to position him as a leader in a post-theocratic Iran.

Behind the Scenes: Mossad's Ambitious Play

According to these reports, Israeli intelligence noted that Ahmadinejad had increasingly distanced himself from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and key factions within Iran's ruling structure. After leaving the presidency, Ahmadinejad attempted a political comeback, only to be consistently thwarted by the Guardian Council. He also began publicly criticizing certain repressive actions of the regime and attempted to cultivate a more moderate political image.

The Mossad allegedly capitalized on this estrangement. Investigations reveal that Israeli agents met with Ahmadinejad during his international travels. David Barnea, then-director of the Mossad, reportedly traveled to Budapest to confer with him, and Israeli officials allegedly funded some of his travel and accommodation expenses.

The project was as audacious as it was risky. It wasn't merely about gathering intelligence on Iran's internal workings. Ahmadinejad was viewed as a potential transitional leader because of his insider knowledge of the regime, lingering popularity among poor and nationalist sectors, and the ability to present himself as an indigenous alternative rather than a foreign puppet.

Operation "Puss in Boots" and Its Fallout

Haaretz claims this plan was part of an Israeli operation named "Puss in Boots." The initiative sparked internal debate within Israel's security apparatus. Some officials deemed it a dangerous fantasy, while others believed Ahmadinejad could facilitate the downfall of the Islamic Republic.

The narrative took on a spy-novel quality following the attacks on Iran starting February 28. Reports allege Mossad agents extracted Ahmadinejad from his home and relocated him to a secretive location in Tehran. The former president later left this sanctuary under still-murky conditions.

According to four senior Iranian officials cited by The New York Times, Ahmadinejad ended up in the custody of the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence division and was reportedly placed under house arrest. The Guardian and The Jerusalem Post echoed these details, although they emphasized the lack of official Iranian confirmation or a known judicial order.

Ahmadinejad's office strongly denied any contact with the Mossad, dismissing the allegations as false. This denial calls for caution: there have been no published documents, recordings, or tangible evidence proving the ex-president knowingly collaborated with Israel.

It's crucial to differentiate between being approached by an intelligence service, engaging in talks with its agents, and actively becoming a spy.

While Ashraf Marwan spent years supplying critical secrets under the codename "The Angel," information about Ahmadinejad comes primarily from anonymous Iranian, American, and Israeli sources.

Nonetheless, the story is potentially devastating for the Islamic Republic. The very man who positioned conflict with Israel as his political hallmark might have ended up negotiating with the same intelligence agency he long portrayed as a mortal enemy.

Ahmadinejad cannot yet be labeled the Mossad's new "Angel." But should these investigations be verified, the former Iranian president may have undergone one of the most astonishing political transformations and intelligence maneuvers in recent history: from a symbol of anti-Israeli radicalism to a potential Israeli asset seeking to dismantle the fundamentalist regime he once led.