US, Israel planned to instal Ahmadinejad as Iran president in regime change op: report

WASHINGTON: (May 20) The US and Israel were considering installing hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the president of Iran as part of the plans for regime change in the Persian Gulf nation in the early days of the war, according to a media report.

Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad, known for his anti-Israel, anti-America views, was consulted by the US and Israel as they drew up war plans targeting Iran, The New York Times reported.

However, Ahmadinejad was injured in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war and soon became disillusioned with the plan for regime change, the report said, quoting US officials.