Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing to restart military operations against Iran's nuclear facilities. This move follows a tense communication with Donald Trump regarding the strategic direction of the conflict.

The failed attempt to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

According to the report, an "audacious" plan—revealed by the New York Times—was sanctioned by Donald Trump to install former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader folllowing the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This regime-change strategy collapsed on the first day of the conflict when an Israeli strike on Ahmadinejad's Tehran residence left him wounded. Since that incident, the former president has not been seen by the public or intelligence agencies.

Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, was known for his hardline stance, including calls to "wipe Israel off the map" and his vocal support for Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The failre of this plan suggests that the attempt to replace the current leadership with a known hardliner has significantly complicated the regional security landscape.

A "dramatic" overnight clash between Trump and Netanyahu

The report describes a "lengthy and dramatic" phone call between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the escalation of hostilities.. While Netanyahu expresses growing skepticism that negotiations with Tehran will result in a peace deal, Trump is reportedly prioritizing a diplomatic path. The former US president wants to secure an agreement where Iran abandons its nuclear weapons program before any further military action is taken.

This fundamental disagreement highlights a growing rift between the Israeli administration and the Trump camp over the utility of continued military pressure versus negotiated concessions. The tension underscores the difficulty of coordinating a unified front when the primary objectives—immediate military neutralization versus long-term diplomatic containment—are in direct opposition.

The strike on the Tehran compound and the loss of moderate voices

During the opening strikes of the war, Israeli forces targeted a Tehran compound, killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. As reported by the source, some of the officials killed in this strike had previously been identified by the White House as being more open to negotiating with the United States than the current hardline leadership.

The removal of these figures,intended to facilitate a more cooperative Iranian government, may have instead removed the very individuals capable of brokering a peace deal. This loss potentially leaves only the most radical elements in power, making the diplomatic goals sought by the United States increasingly difficult to achieve.

The mystery of Ahmadinejad's current whereabouts

One major unanswered question remains: what happened to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after the strike on his home? While the failed plot suggests a lack of viable leadership alternatives, the absence of the wounded former president leaves a vacuum in the narrative of the regime-change attempt. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if the strike on the Tehran compound was intended to target the entire senior ledaership or if it was a collateral consequence of targeting Khamenei.

Finally,it remains unverified whether the current Iranian government has any intention of pursuing the nuclear program more aggressively in the wake of these leadership losses. The lack of clarity regarding both the fate of Ahmadinejad and the internal stability of the Iranian government leaves the region in a state of extreme uncertainty.