Iran’s parliament has approved the general principles of a bill that would criminalise certain contacts with foreign media and organisations deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic.
The proposed legislation would target interviews and other communications with media considered hostile to Iran, including United States and Israeli outlets and organisations financed by either country.
The bill, approved on Sunday, is aimed at countering what Iranian authorities describe as foreign intelligence influence. However, a member of parliament’s judicial and legal commission, Osman Salari, said its individual provisions had not yet been debated or approved.
Salari told the Mizan news agency that reports about the details of the proposed law should therefore not be regarded as final.
Under the bill, interviews with or participation in discussions involving hostile foreign media would be prohibited, with violations punishable by between six months and two years in prison.
Contacts with other foreign media would require notification to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry. Contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organisations or other non-Iranian institutions without notification and written permission from the Foreign Ministry could attract fines and the loss of certain social rights.
The proposed law would also increase penalties for economic crimes carried out under the direction or supervision of foreigners and prohibit the sharing of information with foreigners without approval from the Intelligence Ministry.
It would further restrict scientific cooperation with foreign institutions outside an approved list.
Policy or legislative proposals made under the direction of foreign intelligence services could attract prison terms of up to 30 years if they are deemed harmful to Iran’s security or independence. Such cases would be handled by Revolutionary Courts.
The bill will now be considered article by article by parliament. If lawmakers approve the final version, it will be sent to the Guardian Council for review before it can become law.
The move follows a similar law passed in 2025 after a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which introduced tougher penalties for alleged cooperation with hostile states.
Earlier this month, Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was sentenced to 15 years in prison under that law over allegations that included giving interviews to media deemed hostile and providing photographs to organisations linked to the United States and Israel.
