Iran Parliament Approves Bill Criminalizing Hostile Foreign Media Contact

The Iranian parliament approved the general principles of a bill on August 16, 2026, that would criminalize interviews and communications with media outlets deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic. The legislation specifically targets media based in or financed by the United States and Israel, with violators facing prison sentences between six months and two years.

Beyond hostile media, the bill mandates that citizens notify the intelligence ministry before interviewing with other foreign media and obtain written permission from the foreign ministry to contact foreign embassies or organizations. The proposed law also introduces severe penalties for foreign influence, including prison terms of up to 30 years for policy or legislative proposals directed by foreign intelligence services that harm national security.

Osman Salari, a member of the parliament's judicial and legal commission, noted that individual provisions of the bill have not yet been finalized or debated. The legislation must undergo an article-by-article debate and a review by the Guardian Council before it can be enacted into law.

This move follows a 2025 law passed after a conflict with Israel. Under that previous legislation, photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for providing photographs and interviews to organizations the state considers hostile.