- The United States and Israel initiated a war in Iran with the objective of installing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the country’s new leader, a plan developed in consultation with Ahmadinejad himself, US officials briefed on the discussions told the New York Times.
- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was injured in an Israeli strike on his Tehran home, which was reportedly an attempt to free him from house arrest, resulting in the deaths of three of his Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bodyguards.
- Donald Trump had publicly stated the US-Israeli intention to pursue "regime change" in Iran, aiming to replace the existing establishment with an internal figure, though Ahmadinejad's specific role was not previously confirmed.
- While initial reports suggested his assassination, Ahmadinejad was later confirmed to be alive, though his current location and condition remain unknown; an associate confirmed he viewed the Israeli strike as a liberation attempt.
- A White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, responded to inquiries about the regime change plan by stating that Donald Trump's "Operation Epic Fury" focused on dismantling Iran's military capabilities and securing a nuclear deal, without directly addressing Ahmadinejad's proposed installation.
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