Iran moves to criminalise interviews with US, Israeli media

Iran's parliament has approved the main outline of legislation that seeks to tighten restrictions on suspected foreign influence, including the possibility of criminal penalties for engaging with media outlets seen as hostile to the Islamic Republic. However, the specific details of the proposed law have yet to be finalized, according to Iranian newspaper Shargh.

Osman Salari, a member of parliament's judicial and legal commission, stated that individual provisions still require debate and vote. The bill could criminalize interviews or participation in discussions with media outlets considered hostile to Iran, including US or Israeli media and organizations funded by either country. Violations could result in imprisonment for six months to two years.

The legislation would also impose restrictions on contacts with foreign organizations and institutions, requiring interviews with foreign media not deemed hostile to be notified to Iran's intelligence ministry. Contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organizations, or other non-Iranian institutions without prior permission from the foreign ministry could lead to fines and loss of social rights.

The proposed bill would also increase penalties for economic offenses directed or supervised by foreigners, prohibit the transfer of information to foreigners without intelligence ministry approval, and restrict scientific cooperation with foreign institutions to an approved list. Furthermore, policy or legislative proposals made at the direction of foreign intelligence services that threaten Iran's security or independence could be criminalized, with potential prison terms of up to 30 years handled by Revolutionary Courts.

The bill will undergo article-by-article debate in parliament before being sent to Iran's Guardian Council for review before becoming law. These proposed restrictions come in the wake of legislation passed by Iran in 2025 following its 12-day war with Israel, which introduced harsher penalties for alleged cooperation with states deemed hostile by Tehran.

This law has already been applied in the case of Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison this month for alleged offenses including giving hostile media interviews and providing photographs to organizations linked to the United States and Israel.