On Monday, July 15, a failed assassination attempt targeted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former head of the 9th and 10th governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Axar.az reports that according to reports from Iran International, the incident occurred as Ahmadinejad and his entourage were preparing to travel to Zanjan for the Tasua Day mourning ceremony. The head of Ahmadinejad's security detail, upon inspecting the primary vehicle—a Toyota Land Cruiser—discovered that the car's air conditioning system was still malfunctioning and advised Ahmadinejad to use another vehicle. During the journey, on the Karaj-Qazvin freeway, the Land Cruiser carrying some of Ahmadinejad's associates and bodyguards suddenly lost control, with steering and brakes failing simultaneously. The vehicle spun three times and collided with a concrete barrier and another car before coming to a stop. Fortunately, Ahmadinejad was not in the vehicle, and while one passenger in another car was injured, they received outpatient treatment and were discharged.
Further investigation revealed that the Land Cruiser had been tampered with after being delivered for repairs to a unit within the presidential institution. Sources indicated that, contrary to standard procedures, "special security agents" had intervened, taking the car to an undisclosed location where it was sabotaged before being returned under the guise of having the air conditioning repaired. The Ansar Protection Corps, a unit within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was responsible for Ahmadinejad's security, though the exact affiliation of the "special security agents" remains unspecified. This incident comes after Ahmadinejad's disqualification from the recent presidential election, where he neither supported fundamentalist candidates nor participated in the voting. Sources suggest that the attempt on his life may be linked to the perceived threat his actions posed to the current regime.
It also should be mentioned that on August 27, 2023, the Telegram channel "Dolat-e Bahar," closely associated with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, reported a significant development. Ahmadinejad's office had issued a formal letter addressed to high-ranking military and security commanders and officials. The letter expressed grave concerns about certain alarming activities and actions that were perceived as threats against him. In response, Ahmadinejad's office urged these officials to implement necessary protective measures and to take decisive action against those involved in orchestrating these threats. This communication underscores growing concerns about Ahmadinejad's safety amidst a tense political climate.