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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
Monday, March 2, 2026
TEHRAN — Confusion and contradictory claims have emerged regarding the fate of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, following a devastating wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting the Iranian capital.
Initial reports from the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA) and several international outlets on Sunday suggested that Ahmadinejad had been killed when a missile struck his residence in the Narmak district of northeastern Tehran. The report claimed the 69-year-old former leader died alongside several of his bodyguards during the “Operation Epic Fury” campaign.
Claims of Death and Counter-Denials
The news of Ahmadinejad’s reported death spread rapidly, cited by The Jerusalem Post, Xinhua, and various regional monitors. However, the situation turned fluid late Sunday and early Monday as conflicting information surfaced.
ILNA later updated its coverage to include a statement from a close associate of the former president, who called the news of his “martyrdom” false. Furthermore, an adviser to Ahmadinejad told the Anadolu Agency that the former leader is “alive and unharmed.”
“I am in touch with him. All is good,” the adviser stated on condition of anonymity. “A building related to his security detail was struck… three of his bodyguards were killed. His own residence remained unaffected and was not targeted, though it is only 100 meters away from that building.”
A Regime in Flux
The uncertainty surrounding Ahmadinejad comes amidst a total systemic crisis for the Islamic Republic. The confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday has left a power vacuum, with a temporary leadership council currently struggling to maintain control.
Ahmadinejad, who served as president from 2005 to 2013, had recently transitioned from a hardline enforcer to a populist critic of the current ruling elite. Despite his friction with the establishment, he remained a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, making his status a matter of significant political weight during this transition period.
Security Situation
Neither the U.S. Pentagon nor the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a formal confirmation regarding the targeting of Ahmadinejad. While President Donald Trump stated that “48 leaders” have been neutralized in the strikes, he did not provide a specific list of names.
As smoke continues to rise over the Narmak district, the true status of one of Iran’s most controversial modern figures remains a symbol of the fog of war currently blanketing the region.