Farzad Bazoft was an 32-year-old Iran-born British journalist working as a freelance reporter for The Observer. He settled down in Britain in early 1980s and wrote a number of articles on the Middle East before being invited to Iraq to participate in a trip for journalists organized by the Iraqi government. The aim of this action was to present the reconstruction works in Iraq after the war against Iran. When Barzoft set off, he learned about a mysterious explosion which happened in al-Iskandaria military complex 30 miles south of Baghdad. The heavy detonation was heard as far as in Baghdad itself and despite Saddam Hussein's personal order to keep the matter secret rumours began to spread that the accident happened in an rocket factory's assembly line killing dozens of Egyptian technicians involved in secret medium-range missiles development.

Smelling a likely sensation, Bazoft headed for al-Hilla disguised as Indian medic to search for details. However, other reports have it that he undertook his investigation with the accord of Iraqi officials. Observer editor Donald Trelford said in response to later events: "Farzad Bazoft is not a spy. He is a reporter who went to do a story. He said in advance the story he was going to do ... He told the Baghdad government where he wanted to go... This is not the action of a spy, this is the action of a reporter."

In September 1989, soon after his return, Barzoft was captured together with his companion, the British nurse Daphne Parish who was said to have driven him to the site, just before their departure from Iraq. Obviously under pressure, he later confessed in front of the TV cameras to be an Israeli agent. A hope of receiving a milder sentence might have played a role in Bazoft's public performance. Before their trial, President Saddam Hussein had written to the British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, assuring her Farzad Bazoft and Daphne Parish would get a fair hearing. Following a one-day trial behind closed doors lacking any conclusive evidence of his guilt Bazoft was executed by hanging on March 15, 1990. Parish was jailed for 15 years, however she was released on 16 July the same year. International appeals for clemency had no effect. Right after the execution the British ambassador was ordered to leave Iraq and all ministerial visits were canceled. Bazoft's story triggered a general outrage of the West and contributed to international isolation of Saddam's regime.