On Monday morning, August 3, 2026 (12 Mordad 1405), Iranian authorities executed prisoners Omid Behzad and Pourya Safvat on charges of espionage and intelligence collaboration with Israel. Specifically, the judiciary claimed the two men transmitted photos, coordinates, and sensitive security information to Mossad during recent military tensions.
Following the hangings, Mizan News Agency—the Iranian judiciary’s official media outlet—released a heavily edited video containing forced confessions alongside cropped messaging screenshots. However, an analysis of the state’s public evidence reveals significant technical flaws, unverified claims, and a complete lack of judicial transparency.
Unverified Digital Screenshots and Anonymous Accounts
The state’s primary evidence relies on screenshots showing a chat interface under the display name “hope,” which authorities attribute to Omid Behzad. However, the images display no phone numbers, user handles, or technical metadata linking the account directly to Behzad.
Furthermore, the recipient’s identity in the screenshots was intentionally blurred. While state media claims the individual was a “Mossad officer,” authorities provided zero forensic reports verifying who managed the recipient account. Consequently, cropped messaging logs cannot serve as legal proof of espionage without independent digital forensic validation.
Vague Text References vs. Precise Military Coordinates
Mizan News claimed that Behzad sent precise geographic coordinates to build a “target bank” for foreign strikes. Despite these assertions, the released screenshots contain no GPS pins, latitude/longitude data, or mapping links.
Instead, the messages merely include generic phrases such as “Police HQ,” “IRGC Information,” or “this is an important place.” Therefore, generic text mentions of public buildings do not prove the transmission of actionable military coordinates. In addition, state media failed to provide any timeline or evidence proving that foreign strikes were executed based on these specific messages. You can read more about security trials on our Political Prisoners archive.
Edited Confessions and Complete Judicial Opacity
Alongside the screenshots, the judiciary released a heavily edited video featuring short, spliced statements from Behzad and Safvat. Crucially, the full interrogation footage, the presence of defense attorneys, and the physical conditions under which the videos were recorded remain hidden.
Moreover, the judiciary concealed all core legal details regarding the trial:
The exact dates and locations of their initial arrests.
The presiding judge and court branch handling the case.
Whether the defendants had access to independent legal representation of their choice.
The full written verdicts from the Revolutionary Court and the Supreme Court.
A Severe Breach of Fair Trial Standards
Carrying out death sentences based on cropped screenshots, edited confessions, and secret proceedings violates fundamental international legal norms. Ultimately, executing citizens without transparent due process and verifiable forensic evidence represents an irreversible deprivation of the right to life.
