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Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown

Updated 11 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-31 09:58 UTC → 2026-09-20 22:32 UTC · added removed

The Iranian Parliament has approved the general principles of advanced the ‘Countering the Influence of Intelligence Services, Foreign Governments, or Foreign Entities in the Country’ bill. This legislation bill, which aims to combat perceived foreign espionage through 19 articles, designating espionage. The legislation designates the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Organization as primary authorities. The bill specifically authorities and targets interactions with media deemed ‘hostile’ to the Islamic Republic, such as American and Israeli outlets, with potential prison sentences Republic. New developments include the approval of six months to two years. For other foreign media, individuals must notify key articles mandating the intelligence ministry prior Ministry of Interior to contact. The law also restricts scientific cooperation establish an online system within three months to state-approved institutions register, manage, and proposes prison terms of up to 30 years for policy proposals made under monitor foreign direction. Critics, including communications. This system will provide real-time access to intelligence services, supported technically by the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Majority), warn that broad terms like ‘presenting a black image Ministry of Iran’ allow for wide-ranging security interpretations and threaten civil liberties Communications and academic autonomy. Human rights observers note that Information Technology. Furthermore, the legislation reflects a commitment to institutionalizing structural repression bill requires the Ministries of Education and severing information flows. These legislative efforts coincide Science to integrate content regarding ‘enemy influence’ into textbooks, following consultation with an intensified crackdown on religious minorities and political dissent. Iran Alive Ministries reports that at least 176 Christians have been killed or imprisoned, including 33 ministers. Additionally, data intelligence authorities. The legislation has drawn criticism from Iran Human Rights suggests within the regime has executed 28 political prisoners so far this year. In a significant escalation, Iranian armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi announced government. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet warned that several Persian-language media outlets operating abroad, including BBC Persian, Iran International, and Radio Farda, have been added to the country’s ‘military target bank.’ Shekarchi accused these organizations of being ‘soldiers broad scope could restrict scientific communication, accelerate the migration of Zionism elites, and America’ with direct connections to the CIA cause negative domestic and Mossad. Following this designation, Czech security services international consequences. Human rights observers and critics also argue that the Ministry wide definition of the Interior began evaluating threats ‘foreign communication’ threatens to place academic, media, and implementing civil activities under heavy security measures to protect the Radio Farda facility. surveillance, further institutionalizing structural repression.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-20 22:32 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown
  2. 2026-08-31 09:58 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown
  3. 2026-08-27 12:56 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown
  4. 2026-08-27 07:52 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown
  5. 2026-08-26 21:30 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law and media crackdown
  6. 2026-08-25 23:53 UTC Iran advances foreign influence law amid religious crackdown
  7. 2026-08-25 04:19 UTC Iran parliament advances foreign influence counteraction law
  8. 2026-08-23 13:01 UTC Iran national security and legal reforms
  9. 2026-08-21 20:51 UTC Iran national security and legal reforms
  10. 2026-08-19 15:52 UTC Iran national security and legal reforms
  11. 2026-08-17 17:01 UTC Iran national security and legal reforms
  12. 2026-08-16 22:26 UTC Iran national security and legal reforms

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