The Iranian government has approved the initial draft of a stringent bill that would heavily penalize individuals who communicate with foreign media outlets or media professionals classified as hostile by the state. If enacted, the legislation could result in prison sentences of up to 30 years.
Titled the “Countering the Influence of Foreign Intelligence Services, Governments, and Entities” bill, it has advanced in the legislative process following parliamentary approval on August 16.
A September UN Fact-Finding Mission report indicates that the “broad and vaguely worded” legislation would compel Iranians to register “activities with foreign agents or foreign nationals” and secure approval via an online system linked to the Ministry of Intelligence and the intelligence branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which answers directly to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The IRGC has orchestrated frequent violent crackdowns on protesters, including the January 2026 incident when it was designated a terrorist organization by the European Union and other major international bodies.
Ambiguity
This proposed law extends beyond targeting journalists; it encompasses all Iranians who engage with foreign media without official authorization.
“It also encompasses political and economic collaborations, financing, and the sharing of information—any form of information exchange or receipt of funds,” stated Jonathan Daghler, head of Reporters without Borders (RSF) Middle East Desk, in an interview with RFI.
Individuals convicted of communicating with unauthorized foreign media, or specifically with American or Israeli outlets, could face up to 30 years of imprisonment.
“Rather than precisely defining espionage, the law relies on extremely broad concepts such as ‘collaboration,'” noted Mousa Barzin, an Iranian lawyer in exile in Turkey. He added that as a result, Iranians “choose to remain silent out of fear of sanctions.”
Mohsen Borhani, a jurist and University of Tehran professor who has been arrested and imprisoned in Iran, has also criticized the bill. He highlighted that Article 1 presents an issue of ambiguity regarding the phrasing and interpretation of charges such as “tarnishing public trust” or “damaging national unity.”
He further explained that Article 5 would task the Ministry of Intelligence with compiling an annual list of authorized foreign governments, universities, institutes, and organizations. Consequently, academics would be restricted to interacting solely with entities on this approved list. As Daghler pointed out, the bill effectively targets all citizens.
Impetus for new law
The impetus for this legislation stems from the US-Israel-Iran conflict that erupted in February.
However, it follows a surge in arrests during the 2022 crackdown on the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, during which over 100 media professionals were detained.
“They are essentially legitimizing measures that have been informally implemented since the war began,” Daghler remarked, noting that journalists have already been informally accused of espionage. This bill merely formalizes and expands the practice.
Under Article 57 of Iran’s Constitution, the separation of the three branches of power—legislative, executive, and judiciary—is formally recognized. However, the same article stipulates that these branches operate “under the authority of the Supreme Leader,” who also determines general state policies and their implementation.
Having already passed parliament, this draft media law will now proceed to the 12-member Guardian Council. If accepted, the President will sign it and subsequently notify the public of the new legislation.
Despite international opposition to the law, the judicial branch is unlikely to challenge the Guardian Council. As Daghler stated: “If we are relying on the Iranian judiciary to intervene, we are looking at the problem itself.”
