Iran’s former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is back in the news in a way few would have predicted. The New York Times reported that an early war goal of the Israel and US strikes on Iran on February 28 was to create a kind of regime transition and have Ahmadinejad return to lead Iran. How this would have happened is unclear. With the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, it was believed that Ahmadinejad had the religious clout to take up the reins. How would he take over the presidency with Masoud Pezeshkian still in office?

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN MAY 20, 2026 14:08Updated: MAY 20, 2026 14:50