Iran Parliament approves bill to criminalize contact with foreign media

The Iranian Parliament, known as the Islamic Consultative Assembly, has approved the general outlines of the ‘Foreign Influence Counteraction Bill’. The legislation aims to counter the influence of foreign intelligence services and governments by criminalizing contact with media outlets categorized as ‘hostile’ or ‘subversive’. Under the proposed rules, conducting interviews or participating in discussions with such media would be designated as a crime.

The bill also seeks to restrict academic and scientific cooperation with overseas institutions and imposes severe penalties for various forms of communication with foreign entities. Human rights observers note that the legislation reflects a commitment to institutionalizing structural repression and severing information flows within the country.

Parallel to these legislative shifts, reports indicate an increase in the execution of political prisoners. Data from Iran Human Rights suggests that the regime has executed 28 political prisoners so far this year, an increase from previous periods. Additionally, the Basij militia is reportedly being restructured into an intelligence network to assist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in managing domestic dissent.