Iranian ex-president's office denies NYT report of Mossad recruitment attempt

The office of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed a New York Times report alleging that he was the target of a recruitment attempt by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and had been placed under house arrest.

In a statement, Ahmadinejad's office described the report as "completely false," accusing the newspaper of exploiting heightened political tensions and threats of military action to mislead public opinion, Iran International reports. 

The statement said the report was intended to wage "psychological warfare" against the Iranian people by targeting Ahmadinejad, whom it described as widely popular.

It also rejected claims that the former president was under house arrest, stating that Ahmadinejad continues to carry out his normal daily activities.

By Sabina Mammadli