‘It Was Just an Accident’ Co-Screenwriter Mehdi Mahmoudian Arrested by Iranian Government

Mahmoudian is nominated for an Oscar for his screenplay, co-written with director Jafar Panahi.

Mehdi Mahmoudia, co-screenwriter behind Jafar Panahi‘s acclaimed thriller “It Was Just An Accident,” was arrested in Tehran by Iranian government officials on January 31.

The arrest comes after Mahmoudian was one of 17 signatories of a public statement condemning Ali Khameni, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The statement — which was also co-signed by Panahi and other notable public digures such as director Mohammad Rasoulof and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi — condemned the current political violence in Iran amidst protests to oust the current regime.

“The mass and systematic killing of citizens who bravely took to the streets to bring an end to an illegitimate regime constitutes an organized state crime against humanity. The use of live ammunition against civilians, the killing of tens of thousands, the arrest and persecution of tens of thousands more, the assault on the wounded, the obstruction of medical care, and the killing of injured protesters amount to nothing less than an assault on Iran’s national security and a betrayal of the country,” the statement reads.

“The primary responsibility for these atrocities lies with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and the repressive structure of the regime,” it continues. “This authoritarian apparatus has relied on mass killings to ensure its survival while ignoring the basic and inalienable rights of citizens—including the fundamental right to seek change in the political system.”

In addition to Mahmoudian, co-signatories Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni were also arrested. At the time, there is no confirmed information about the arresting authority or the charges against the detained.

Mahmoudian is one of four co-writers of “It Was Just An Accident,” which follows a group of former political prisoners debating whether to enact vengeance on an officer who contributed to their torture. Along with Panahi and screenwriters Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin, Mahmoudian is nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15.

In a statement shared with IndieWire, Panahi condemned the arrest of Mahmoudian and shared his worries for his collaborator.

“I met Mehdi Mahmoudian in prison. From the very first days, he stood out—not only because of his calm demeanor and kind conduct but also because of a rare sense of responsibility toward others,” Panahi wrote in his statement. “Whenever a new prisoner arrived, Mehdi would try to provide them with basic necessities and, more importantly, offer reassurance. He became a quiet pillar inside the prison—someone inmates of all beliefs and backgrounds trusted and confided in.”

“Mehdi Mahmoudian is not just a human rights activist and a prisoner of conscience; he is a witness, a listener, and a rare moral presence—a presence whose absence is immediately felt, both inside prison walls and beyond them,” the statement continues.

Panahi, whose work is frequently critical of the Iranian government, has faced frequent legal issues over the course of his career, and has been arrested in his country several times. In December 2025, he was sentenced in absentia to one year in prison and a two-year ban from leaving Iran. He has since announced plans to launch a legal appeal against the charges.