Iran | Student Arrested for Filming Ballistic Missile Warehouse Could Face Death Penalty

Ballistic missiles from the Fateh-110 family.

TEHRAN, Iran (DPN) — Iranian authorities have arrested an engineering student accused of secretly filming inside a ballistic missile warehouse during a university field trip to a site operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The student, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, allegedly used a mobile phone to record dozens of missiles despite a strict ban on photography at the facility. The video, which circulated on platforms including X and pro-Iranian Telegram channels, showed what experts identified as short-range ballistic missiles from the Fateh-110 family, an older model in Iran's arsenal. The footage prompted swift action from IRGC intelligence officials.

The arrest occurred shortly after the video emerged late last month, with reports indicating the student was detained for violating national security protocols. Iranian state media has not officially commented on the incident, but pro-government channels on Telegram confirmed the student's capture, describing the act as a potential espionage risk amid ongoing regional tensions. Analysts noted the missiles appeared ready for deployment, underscoring Iran's robust ballistic program, which has drawn international scrutiny for its role in proxy conflicts and threats against Israel.

Under Iranian law, unauthorized filming of military sites can lead to severe penalties, including charges of spying or propagating against the regime, which carry the possibility of the death penalty. This case echoes a recent execution in December 2025 of Aghil Keshavarz, a 27-year-old architecture student convicted of espionage for photographing a military headquarters in Urmia and allegedly sharing details with Israel's Mossad. Keshavarz's death sentence was upheld despite international outcry from human rights groups, who alleged torture and an unfair trial.

The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened security measures in Iran following the 2025 escalation with Israel, which involved missile exchanges and cyberattacks. Iran's missile stockpiles, including the Fateh-110 with a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles), have been central to its deterrence strategy. The IRGC, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., oversees much of the country's advanced weaponry programs.

Social media reactions to the leaked video were mixed, with some users praising the student's boldness while others condemned it as reckless. Independent verification of the video's authenticity and the student's current status remains limited, as Iranian authorities tightly control information on security matters.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern over the potential for harsh sentencing, pointing to a pattern of crackdowns on perceived internal threats. Amnesty International has documented dozens of similar arrests in recent years, often linked to online sharing of sensitive material. The student's family has not commented publicly, and no trial date has been announced.

Iran's government maintains that such measures are necessary to protect national sovereignty amid foreign pressures, including U.S. sanctions reimposed after the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Officials have repeatedly accused foreign intelligence agencies of infiltrating educational and cultural exchanges to gather data on military capabilities.

Source: DPN, X, Agencies, Staff, AI, February 1, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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