Counterintelligence — 2026-08-03

Iran Executes Two Convicted of Providing Military Target Coordinates to Mossad During 2025-2026 Hostilities

BLUFBy publicizing specific collection tradecraft alongside the executions, Tehran is burning known channels to deter future recruitment while signaling expectation of renewed Israeli strikes.

Iran's Judiciary announced the execution of Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat on Monday for espionage on behalf of Mossad 1234. The judiciary said the two supplied coordinates, images and intelligence on Iranian military and security sites to Mossad during the 12-day war in June 2025 and the 40-day war in February, and that IRGC Intelligence Organization agents arrested them during that cooperation 1. The Times of Israel, citing Mizan, reported that Behzad transmitted coordinates through a Telegram channel linked to Mossad, while Safvat passed information to Mossad and the London-based Iran International network 2. The Washington Times, citing Mehr News, reported that some of the locations Safvat identified were later bombed and that he filmed Iranian air defense systems from rooftops during the 12-day war 3.

Analysis
Iran's decision to publicize collection tradecraft, a Telegram channel administrator tied to Mossad and a media handoff naming Iran International, functions as a warning that those channels are now compromised, while extending the espionage label to exile media gives Tehran grounds to further restrict domestic contact with that outlet. The account remains single-sourced to the Iranian state; Mizan and Press TV originate the judiciary's statement, and Western outlets relay it as secondary amplification rather than independent confirmation. This is the fourth Mossad-linked execution since May, with the added detail on Telegram-based coordinate transmission and rooftop filming of air defenses marking the first disclosure of specific tradecraft rather than just charges. The executions also fit Iran's wider wartime pattern of deterrent hangings independent of any case-specific counterintelligence need.

5 sources

Two Mossad operatives convicted of supplying security information to Israel executed: Iran Judiciary - Press TV
Iran hangs two accused of spying for Israel as wartime executions ramp up - The Times of Israel
Iran executes two men accused of spying for Israel as wave mounts of wartime hangings - The Washington Times
Iran Executes Two Individuals Convicted of Espionage for Mossad - Caspian Post
2 key Zionist operatives in the 12-day and 40-day wars pay for their actions: Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat hanged for sending coordinates of sensitive military and security sites to Mossad officers - Mizan Online (Iran judiciary news agency)