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US and Israel ‘hoped to install Ahmadinejad as Iran’s leader’

The Guardian · · 775 words · By Patrick Wintour
Geopolitical Instability US-Israel-Iran relations Regime Change Efforts
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/us-and-israel-hoped-to-install-ahm…

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

19 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 9
check_circle Corroborated 8
info Single Source 2
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“Ahmadinejad’s turbulent presidency, from 2005 to 2013”
CORROBORATED
Two independent news sources (NY Post and Al Jazeera) confirm Mahmoud Ahmadinejad served as president from 2005 to 2013.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Ahmadinejad, who served as Iran’s president from 2005 to 2013
https://nypost.com/2026/05/20/world-news/experts-raise-eyebr…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — he was known during his term as president, from 2005 to 2013, for his calls to ‘wipe Israel off the map’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/us-and-israel-plann…
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“Israel bombed a security building close to his Tehran home to help him escape house arrest”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and a report on the 'War On Iran') mention the claim that Israel bombed a security building near Ahmadinejad's home to help him escape house arrest.
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web search NEUTRAL — Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was being lined up by the US and Israel in Iran similarly to Rodriguez after Maduro in Venezuela. Listen (4 mins).
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/20/us-and-israel-plann…
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web search NEUTRAL — Why was his house bombed? Ahmadinejad was under house arrest and had to be freed by bombing him? But the NY Times also mentions that he has traveled a lot: In the past few years Mr. Ahmadinejad has ma…
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2026/05/war-on-iran-was-this-t…
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web search NEUTRAL — It is claimed that Israel bombed a security building close to his Tehran home to help him escape house arrest but he became uneasy about the operation.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/us-and-israel-…
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“The plans, reported by the New York Times”
CORROBORATED
Three separate web results explicitly state that the New York Times reported on a secret US-Israeli plot to install Ahmadinejad in power.
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web search NEUTRAL — The US and Israel had a plan to install a former Iranian hardliner president days after both countries launched a war on Iran and killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during initial air strikes on …
https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/c293e3a82b37
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web search NEUTRAL — The New York Times reports of a secret US-Israeli plot to install former anti-Israel Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's leader.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427344
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web search NEUTRAL — The New York Times reported overnight Tuesday that the United States and Israel had an unexpected candidate for that “someone from within” — perhaps the last person anyone would have imagined as suita…
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bka4o351fx
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“The US president said on Monday that he had delayed a fresh attack after an intervention by Gulf leaders.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources (YouTube/Trutht Social report, The Hindu, and another news report) confirm Donald Trump stated he delayed an attack on Iran following requests from Gulf leaders.
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web search NEUTRAL — US President Donald Trump has announced America was planning to attack Iran tomorrow but has now agreed to hold it off.President Trump said in a post on Trut...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTstUcn81bQ
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web search NEUTRAL — Trump claims Gulf leaders requested he hold off on striking Iran, originally 'planned' for Tuesday. The heads of the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia called Trump, asking him not to strike Iran, the presi…
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-896614
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web search NEUTRAL — U.S. President Donald Trump said he was postponing a planned attack on Iran scheduled for Tuesday (May 19, 2026) at the request of Gulf leaders amid “serious negotiations” with Tehran.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-says-delay…
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“on Tuesday he held a lengthy phone call with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim are completely irrelevant, discussing 'Liên Quân' (a video game) skins instead of political phone calls.
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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 7, 2026 · Trên đây là danh sách skin Liên Quân mới nhất 2026 được tổng hợp chi tiết, giúp game thủ dễ dàng theo dõi những bộ trang phục sắp ra mắt cũng như các skin đang được săn đón.
https://vtcpay.vn/blog/skin-lien-quan-moi-nhat-2026.html
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web search NEUTRAL — Mod skin Liên Quân đang trở thành xu hướng mới được cộng đồng game thủ cực kỳ yêu thích. Với khả năng thay đổi giao diện, hiệu ứng và trang phục nhân vật, người chơi có thể trải nghiệm Liên Quân theo …
https://modskinlienquan.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Gameplay Trang chủ Gameplay Tướng/Skin Tướng/Skin Trang phục Trang Bị Bảng ngọc Phụ Trợ Phù Hiệu Chế độ chơi Đấu sĩ Đỡ đòn Pháp sư Sát thủ Trợ thủ Xạ thủ
https://lienquan.garena.vn/hoc-vien/tuong-skin/
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“Trump told reporters on Wednesday: “Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to do.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources report that Donald Trump told reporters that Benjamin Netanyahu would do 'whatever I want him to do'.
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web search NEUTRAL — Donald Trump said Benjamin Netanyahu would do whatever he wanted on Iran when asked about a possible strike.Standing before reporters on Wednesday, he declared that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyah…
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/donald-trump-says-benj…
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web search NEUTRAL — President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do “whatever I want him to do” when it comes to dealing with Iran.
https://www.tampafp.com/trump-drops-iran-bombshell-netanyahu…
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web search NEUTRAL — He added that Netanyahu is “a very good man” before repeating, “He will do whatever I want him to do.” Trump also joked that he might take Netanyahu’s job one day, claiming he’s “99%” among Israelis. …
https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-boasts-netanyahu-w…
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“The US has mounted a counter-blockade of Iran’s ports”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm the US implemented a counter-blockade of Iranian ports, specifically mentioning the date April 13.
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web search NEUTRAL — A US naval blockade cuts off Iran's main source of hard currency by halting most of its oil exports. Will President Trump's pressure force Tehran back to negotiations or widen the conflict?
https://www.dw.com/en/trump-naval-blockade-of-iranian-ports-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Shortly after, Trump said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a deal is reached. Iran has since said the strait is closed again. Iran had continued to export its own oil…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yv6xr6me3o
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web search NEUTRAL — Iran imposed a blockade on foreign shipping using the strait of Hormuz soon afterwards and Trump imposed a counter-blockade of ships using Iranian ports on 13 April.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/04/shipping-bosse…
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“Iran's oil shipments... principally go to China as its single biggest source of export revenue.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm China is the primary destination for Iranian oil exports despite sanctions, and that oil is a critical source of Iranian export revenue.
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web search NEUTRAL — Iran has a developing mixed economy that is centrally planned through its large public sector. With a population of over 90 million, Iran has an economic output of $225 billion in nominal GDP and $2.1…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iran
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web search NEUTRAL — China continues to be the primary destination for Iranian oil exports despite mounting US sanctions. Much of Iran’s sanctioned crude reportedly reaches Chinese refiners through indirect shipping chann…
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/china-orders-firms-to-ig…
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web search NEUTRAL — Oil accounts for 40% of Iranian export revenue and 23% of overall GDP.Iranian Oil Production. Oil plays a key role in Iran’s economy and historically allowed the country to be one of the world’s large…
https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/international-iss…
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“At the time of the initial Israeli attacks on Tehran, on 28 February”
CORROBORATED
Five independent cross-references (CGTN, Al Jazeera, CNBC, The Hindu) all confirm that the US and Israel launched attacks on Tehran on February 28.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders a…
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-04-10/UAE-president-Bahraini…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — On February 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders a…
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-04-12/Iran-s-Lavan-refinery-…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The stock market... had remained shut since February 28, when the US and Israel launched missile attacks on Tehran and other parts of the country.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/18/iran-eyes-challe…
+ 2 more evidence sources
info
“a security outpost outside his home in Narmak, north-east Tehran, had been hit – an attack confirmed by satellite images.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence consists of general Wikipedia and commercial definitions of satellites and weather maps; there is no specific evidence provided regarding a strike in the Narmak district of Tehran.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 1 hour ago · Orbital Radar is a next-generation platform for real-time satellite tracking, space situational awareness, and orbital intelligence. Explore thousands of satellites, live events, and orbi…
https://orbitalradar.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Satellites are spacecraft launched from the surface into space by launch systems. Satellites can then change or maintain their orbit by propulsion, usually by chemical or ion thrusters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite
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web search NEUTRAL — View LIVE satellite images, rain maps, forecast maps of wind, temperature for your location.
https://zoom.earth/
schedule
“official news agencies reported that he suffered minor injuries but his bodyguards were killed.”
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“Trump had made it clear... he wanted to follow the model of Venezuela where US troops captured the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro”
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“Maduro’s deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, is largely cooperating with Washington”
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“Ahmadinejad’s authority declined markedly when he fell out with Khamenei in 2011”
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“a year later – his rival, Ali Larijani, was elected parliament’s speaker.”
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“He was arrested in 2018 after criticising the government led by his successor, Hassan Rouhani.”
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“Ahmadinejad has been repeatedly blocked from standing again for the presidency, including in 2024.”
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“issued only the most mild criticism of the Israeli strikes on Iran in 2025.”
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“he was reported to have visited pro-Israel Hungary to give a talk last June.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.