This hard-line Iranian general is a major player in talks with US over war

Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, has emerged as a key figure in Iran's negotiations with the United States over the ongoing war. Experts believe Vahidi is part of a small group in direct contact with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who is reportedly in hiding after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in recent strikes. Vahidi, with a history of involvement in regional militant groups and past attacks, is shaping Iran's firm negotiating stance. His influence is seen as a factor making an accord with the U.S. more difficult, especially amidst uncertainty about decision-making power within Iran's leadership.

Reports indicate that the US and Israel had intended to install former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader following the regime's anticipated collapse. This plan, however, reportedly went awry when Israeli strikes on a security post on February 28th injured Ahmadinejad and killed guards, leading him to become disillusioned with the scheme. The article notes perceived similarities between Ahmadinejad and Donald Trump in their populist communication styles and autocratic tendencies. Despite Ahmadinejad's avowed anti-Zionist stance and rhetoric, which significantly escalated tensions with Israel, some US policy insiders suggest a "transformation" after his presidency, leading to his disenchantment with the Iranian regime and a willingness to act differently. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

A report by the New York Times claims that Israel bombed a security building near Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Tehran home at the start of recent hostilities, aiming to free him from house arrest and potentially install him as Iran's leader. Ahmadinejad, a former populist president who later became a critic of the regime, reportedly became uneasy about the operation. The article suggests this episode indicates the US and Israel overestimated opposition to the Iranian regime and their ability to effect change through airstrikes. The report also touches on ongoing US-Iran tensions regarding nuclear enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz, with President Trump considering further airstrikes despite intervention from Gulf leaders. Iranian media has treated the report with skepticism, questioning Ahmadinejad's house arrest status.

The US and Israel reportedly planned to install Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the leader of Iran, similar to how they handled Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro. According to The New York Times, US officials briefed on the plan described it as "audacious" but said it quickly unraveled. Ahmadinejad had previously made anti-Israel statements and was a strong supporter of Iran's nuclear program. However, in a 2019 interview, he praised President Trump and advocated for a rapprochement between the two nations. The US officials believed that Trump could replicate his success with Maduro by installing a new leader who would work with the White House. Ahmadinejad's current whereabouts and condition are unknown.