Iran Criminalises Interviews with US and Israeli Media

Iran’s parliament approved the general framework of a bill on 16 August 2026 that seeks to criminalise interviews, discussions, and other communications with media outlets classified as hostile to the Islamic Republic. The draft law specifically targets US and Israeli outlets, as well as entities financed by them, and it also sets out restrictions on contact with other foreign actors.

Proposed Legal Provisions

The draft bill proposes prison terms of six months to two years for persons who take part in discussions with hostile media platforms. It also requires notification to the intelligence ministry for interviews with non-hostile foreign media.

Unauthorised contact with foreign embassies or organisations without written permission from the foreign ministry would attract fines and loss of certain social rights. The bill also seeks to restrict scientific cooperation with unapproved foreign institutions and to prohibit sharing information with foreigners without intelligence ministry consent.

Security-Related Offences and Courts

The proposed legislation provides for up to 30 years in prison for policy or legislative proposals directed by foreign intelligence services that harm Iran’s security or independence. Such cases would be tried in Revolutionary Courts, which are special courts in Iran that handle security-related and political offences.

The bill also seeks higher penalties for economic crimes supervised by foreigners. Judicial commission member Osman Salari stated that the provisions remain open to parliamentary debate and are not yet final.

Legal Background in Iran

The legislation is linked to a 2025 law passed after a 12-day war with Israel. That law increased penalties for cooperation with hostile states and formed part of Iran’s wider legal framework on national security offences.

Iran’s Guardian Council must review the bill before it can become law. The Guardian Council is a 12-member constitutional body in Iran that examines legislation for compatibility with the constitution and Islamic law.

Important Facts for Exams

• Iran’s parliament is called the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
• The Guardian Council has 12 members, with six clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader and six jurists nominated by the judiciary.
• Revolutionary Courts in Iran were established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• Iran’s intelligence ministry is formally known as the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.