Iran’s parliament on Sunday approved the general principles of a bill that would criminalize interviews and other communications with foreign media outlets deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic, including US and Israeli media and organizations financed by either country, according to reports by Iranian media outlets including Shargh, IRNA, Etemad Online, Rouydad24, and ILNA.
Under the proposed legislation, appearing in interviews or participating in discussions with such media could carry prison terms of six months to two years. The bill must still undergo detailed parliamentary review before being submitted to the Guardian Council for approval.
The legislation would also require Iranians to notify the Intelligence Ministry before giving interviews to other foreign media outlets.
Contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organizations, or other non-Iranian institutions without notifying the Foreign Ministry and obtaining written permission could result in fines and the loss of certain social rights, according to Iranian media reports.
The proposed measure would also toughen penalties for economic crimes committed under foreign direction or supervision, prohibit providing information to foreigners without approval from the Intelligence Ministry, and restrict scientific cooperation with foreign institutions not on an approved list.
It further proposes prison terms of up to 30 years for policy or legislative proposals made under the direction of foreign intelligence services if authorities determine they threaten Iran’s security or independence. Such cases would be heard by Revolutionary Courts.
The bill is presented as a measure to counter foreign intelligence influence and comes after Iran adopted tougher legislation in 2025 targeting alleged cooperation with hostile states.
The proposed restrictions come amid an intensified Iranian crackdown on contacts between citizens and foreign organizations, particularly those linked by authorities to countries considered hostile to Iran.
Earlier last week, Iran’s neighboring country Pakistan introduced new rules expanding government oversight of foreign media, requiring journalists and contributors working for international outlets to obtain official clearance before undertaking reporting assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. The move has drawn strong criticism from journalistic organizations.
Under the Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026, issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, foreign-media personnel must obtain a No Objection Certificate from the ministry’s External Publicity Wing before carrying out official reporting assignments outside the country’s three largest cities.
