Iranian Lawmakers Propose Criminalizing Contact With Foreign Media

Lawmakers in Iran are discussing a new bill that would criminalize all contact with foreign media and organizations unless the individual provides prior notification to the intelligence ministry. The proposed legislation targets journalists, researchers, and ordinary citizens, with potential prison sentences ranging from six months to two years for conducting interviews, establishing contacts, or sending photographs to international audiences.

The bill also extends to social media platforms the regime classifies as foreign-financed, specifically including X and Instagram. Human rights advocates warn that the measure is an attempt to isolate Iranian society, with the Center for Human Rights in Iran describing the potential outcome as turning the country into an "isolated black hole."

Legal experts view this legislative push as part of a broader crackdown on interactions with foreign institutions. They point to the recent sentencing of photographer Yalda Moaiery, who received a 15-year prison sentence in absentia for documenting the US-Israeli war on Iran, as a signal of the state's intent to punish those who engage with international entities.