Iranian parliament votes to further criminalize interviews with US, Israeli media outlets
Under the bill, which the Guardian Council must still review, interviews or collaborations with such media would be banned, and violations would be punishable by up to two years in prison.
Iran's parliament has passed a bill that would make interviews and communication with perceived hostile media, such as US or Israeli outlets, illegal. The bill, which must first pass through the Guardian Council, imposes sentences of six months to two years in prison for such violations. Interviews with other foreign media would require prior notification to the intelligence ministry, while contact with non-Iranian institutions without proper authorization could result in fines and the loss of social rights.
The legislation also tightens penalties for economic crimes directed or supervised by foreigners, bans providing information to foreigners without intelligence ministry approval, and restricts scientific cooperation with foreign institutions not on an approved list. Further, it could lead to up to 30 years in prison for policy or legislative proposals made under foreign intelligence guidance that threaten Iran's security or independence.
Cases would be heard by Revolutionary Courts. This move is not Iran's first instance of criminalizing foreign cooperation; a 2025 law passed after a 12-day conflict with Israel also harshened penalties for alleged collaboration with hostile states. In recent months, Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery received a 15-year sentence under the previous law for alleged interactions with media deemed hostile and providing photographs to US and Israel-linked organizations.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
