Mossad chief Gofman ousts two senior officials over failed Iran regime-change plan

Key points

• Mossad Director Roman Gofman dismissed the head of the Intelligence Directorate and the head of the Iran division, neither of whom was named in reports.
• The removed officials had conceived a secret Mossad-CIA proposal to use Kurdish forces and Iranian minorities to topple the Iranian leadership under Israeli and American air cover.
• The plan was presented to US President Donald Trump but was not implemented on the ground, leading Gofman to hold the drafters accountable.
• Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was reportedly intended to lead a post-regime Iran, survived an Israeli airstrike on his Tehran residence but was wounded.
• Ahmadinejad subsequently expressed doubts about the regime-change plan after his rescue attempt failed, contributing to the operation's unraveling.
• Security officials characterized the dismissals as a mutual agreement and part of a wider agency reorganization, noting the officials could remain in other Mossad roles.

Background

This development follows earlier reports in July 2026 that Israel had attempted to recruit Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead a post-theocratic Iran, with Mossad chief David Barnea meeting him in Hungary. Those efforts reportedly waned as Ahmadinejad distanced himself from the regime and was placed under IRGC custody. Concurrently, US-Iran conflict strategies shifted from regime change to protecting oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump halting a planned joint strike after persuasion from Gulf states. The current dismissals reflect the fallout from the failure of the specific regime-change strategy that had been discussed with Washington.

Why it matters

The removal of senior Mossad officials signals a significant internal reckoning within Israel's intelligence apparatus regarding the feasibility of regime change in Iran. It highlights the fragility of covert operations involving local proxies and the risks of relying on controversial figures like Ahmadinejad. The failure of this plan may influence future US-Israeli coordination, potentially shifting focus away from direct regime overthrow toward other strategic objectives, such as containing Iran's nuclear program or securing regional oil routes, amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

What to watch

Observers will watch for the appointment of new leaders to the Mossad's Intelligence Directorate and Iran division. The broader reorganization of the agency may signal a shift in Israel's approach to Iran, potentially moving away from direct regime-change operations toward other forms of pressure or containment. The status of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his relationship with the Iranian regime will also be monitored, as his withdrawal from the plan could impact internal Iranian power dynamics. Additionally, the US-Israeli relationship may face scrutiny over the coordination of future operations, given the failure of this joint proposal.