Iran criminalizes contact with 'hostile' media

Iran's parliament has passed a bill that criminalizes engaging in interviews or any form of communication with media outlets designated as "hostile" by the Iranian authorities. This includes media affiliated with or funded by the United States and Israel, according to Iran's "Shargh" newspaper.

The proposed law, which awaits review by the Guardian Council before becoming effective, stipulates that individuals conducting interviews or participating in discussions with these designated media will face imprisonment for a period of six months to two years. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Ministry of Intelligence must be notified prior to conducting interviews with other foreign media organizations.

Unauthorized contact with foreign embassies or offices of non-Iranian organizations and institutions, without prior notification or written permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also result in fines and social rights restrictions. The legislation extends to tightening penalties for economic crimes committed under the direction or supervision of foreign entities and prohibits sharing information with foreigners without the approval of the Ministry of Intelligence.

This move by the Iranian parliament is part of a broader trend of increasing restrictions on journalists, activists, and media within the country. Recent human rights reports have highlighted an expansion of prosecutions related to communication with foreign media or the publication of content deemed supportive of adversarial entities. The bill's passage comes amid heightened tensions and Iran's ongoing efforts to control information flow and limit external influence.