Iranian parliament advances bill to curb foreign influence

Yesterday, Iran's parliament endorsed the fundamental provisions of a bill designed to penalise discourse with media seen as hostile to the Islamic Republic. This includes U.S. or Israeli media and outlets backed by either nation. Osman Salari, a representative of the parliament's judicial and legal commission, mentioned that the individual components of the bill, aimed at countering foreign intelligence influence, have yet to be examined and approved.

Salari cautioned that accounts of the bill's specifics should not be deemed definitive at this stage, according to Mizan news agency. Under the proposed legislation, interviews or involvement in discussions with such media would be prohibited, with penalties ranging from six months to two years in prison. Interviews with other foreign media would necessitate notification to the intelligence ministry, while contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organisations, or other non-Iranian institutions without prior notification and written consent from the foreign ministry would result in a fine and the loss of certain social privileges.

The bill would also impose stricter penalties for economic crimes carried out under the guidance or supervision of foreigners, prohibit furnishing information to foreigners without intelligence ministry approval, and limit scientific collaboration with foreign institutions not on an approved list. It would punish policy or legislative suggestions made under the guidance of foreign intelligence services that undermine Iran's security or independence with prison terms up to 30 years.

Trials would be conducted by Revolutionary Courts. The bill will be reviewed clause by clause in parliament. Upon the parliament's approval of the final version, it must be examined by the Guardian Council before becoming enforceable. This is not the first time Iran has criminalised cooperation with foreign entities. Following a 12-day conflict with Israel in 2025, a law was enacted that imposed harsher penalties for alleged collaboration with hostile states.

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery received a 15-year sentence this month under that law for alleged transgressions such as giving interviews to media deemed hostile and supplying photographs to U.S. and Israel-affiliated organisations, as reported by Reuters.