Iran Parliament Approves Bill Restricting Media Communications

Iran’s parliament has passed a bill that seeks to criminalize interviews and interactions with media considered hostile to the Islamic Republic. This includes U.S. and Israeli media organizations, as reported by Iran’s Shargh newspaper. The bill must be reviewed by the Guardian Council before it becomes law.

According to the proposed legislation, interviews or participation in discussions with banned media will be subject to punishments ranging from six months to two years in prison. Interviews with other foreign media will require prior notification to the intelligence ministry. Additionally, any contact with foreign embassies or foreign organizations without the written permission of the foreign ministry will result in fines and restrictions on certain social rights.

The bill also aims to increase penalties for economic crimes conducted under foreign oversight and prohibits providing information to foreigners without approval from the intelligence ministry. It limits scientific collaborations to an approved list of foreign institutions.

Further provisions of the bill include severe penalties for policy proposals influenced by foreign intelligence services that threaten Iran’s security or independence. These cases can lead to prison terms of up to 30 years and will be tried by Revolutionary Courts.

This development is in line with previous legislative measures in Iran. In 2025, following a 12-day conflict with Israel, a law was enacted to impose stricter penalties for alleged cooperation with hostile states.

An Iranian photojournalist, Yalda Moaiery, has recently been sentenced to 15 years in prison under this law. The charges included giving interviews to hostile media and sharing photographs with U.S. and Israel-associated organizations.