Iran Approves Bill Criminalizing Interviews With Hostile Media

Iran's parliament has approved the general principles of a bill that would criminalize interviews and other forms of communication with media outlets considered hostile to the Islamic Republic. The legislation, which aims to counter foreign intelligence influence, was reported by Iran's Shargh newspaper on Sunday.

Osman Salari, a member of parliament's judicial and legal commission, stated that the individual provisions of the bill have yet to be debated and approved, and that details should not be considered final. If passed as is, the bill would impose prison sentences of six months to two years for interviews or participation in discussions with media deemed hostile, including outlets financed by or affiliated with the United States or Israel.

Interviews with other foreign media would require notification to the intelligence ministry. Contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organizations, or other non-Iranian institutions without prior notification and written permission from the foreign ministry could result in a fine and deprivation of certain social rights.

The proposed legislation also includes measures to toughen penalties for economic crimes committed under foreign direction or supervision, ban providing information to foreigners without intelligence ministry approval, and restrict scientific cooperation with foreign institutions not on an approved list. Policy or legislative proposals made under the direction of foreign intelligence services that harm Iran's security or independence could carry prison terms of up to 30 years, with cases to be heard by Revolutionary Courts.

This is not the first time Iran has enacted laws against cooperation with foreign entities. Following a conflict with Israel in 2025, a law was passed imposing stricter penalties for alleged cooperation with hostile states. Under that law, Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was recently sentenced to 15 years for offenses including giving interviews to hostile media and providing photographs to organizations linked to the U.S. and Israel.