US and Israel wanted ex-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to lead after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's death, NYT reported. The choice was "unusual" given Ahmadinejad's anti-US/Israel rhetoric during his presidency (2005-2013), but strategic due to his clashes with Iran's ruling establishment. Ahmadinejad became "disillusioned" with the regime-change plan after an Israeli airstrike injured him.