Iran's First Vice President warns against foreign influence bill

Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's First Vice President, has warned that the proposed “Countering Foreign Influence in the Country” bill currently under review by the Islamic Consultative Assembly could severely damage the nation's scientific progress.

Speaking at a meeting of the Special Headquarters for Technology Development, Aref expressed concern that the legislation might discourage university professors from engaging in scientific collaborations with top international universities. He noted that such a law could lead to fears of espionage charges or summons for academics participating in global conferences, thereby stifling research environments.

Aref stated that Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has promised to remove the bill from the Parliament's agenda. If the bill is not withdrawn, Aref suggested that the issue should be resolved through consultations with other institutions, such as the Expediency Discernment Council. He emphasized that emerging technologies are a vital priority for the government and that scientific institutions must be supported rather than viewed through a purely security-oriented lens.