Iran Parliament Backs Bill to Criminalize Contact With Hostile Media

Iran’s parliament, the Majles, approved on Sunday the general principles of a bill that would criminalize interviews and other communications with media outlets that authorities in Tehran deem “hostile,” setting the stage for a further tightening of information controls and a potential new penalty regime for contact with foreign or oppositional media.

The vote is an early but significant step: the bill has only cleared the “general principles” stage, meaning it is not yet final law and could still be amended, delayed or blocked as it moves through further legislative steps.

Under the proposed measure, journalists, activists and ordinary citizens could face criminal consequences for giving interviews, sending messages, or otherwise communicating with domestic and foreign media brands classified by the state as hostile. The text, as currently written, does not spell out a precise definition of which outlets would qualify, leaving broad discretion to Iranian authorities.

What the bill would do

If enacted, the legislation would expand the state’s ability to police speech and press contact beyond the already strict controls on domestic media. It would target the act of communicating with outlets outside the official information sphere, rather than only the publication of specific material.

• Criminalize interviews, statements, messages and other communications with media designated as hostile.
• Expose Iranians to a new penalty regime, potentially including prison sentences.
• Allow broad official discretion in deciding which media outlets meet the “hostile” label.
• Deepen restrictions on journalists, activists and ordinary citizens, particularly on politically sensitive or security-related subjects.

Because the definition of “hostile media” remains vague in the current draft, the measure raises due-process concerns: a broad label could be applied inconsistently, turning routine contact with international broadcasters, foreign news websites, or exile-run platforms into a security case.

Wider context of media restrictions

The parliamentary move fits within a broader pattern of Iranian restrictions on journalists, activists and ordinary citizens. Tehran has long limited access to foreign and oppositional outlets, blocked websites and messaging services, and pursued security-related prosecutions for information sharing. The proposed bill would add another instrument to that system by criminalizing contact itself.

For Iranians who have documented domestic unrest, human rights conditions or government policy, the measure could have a sharp chilling effect. International news organizations often depend on interviews, messages and videos from people inside Iran when their own staff face access restrictions or safety risks.

Who decides which media are hostile?

A central uncertainty is which body would hold the power to classify media as hostile. The bill’s general language suggests the decision could rest with security, intelligence or judicial institutions, leaving little room for an independent challenge. Without a clear and narrow definition, the measure could be used to punish contact with a wide range of international media, exile-run channels and online platforms.

What comes next

Because the bill has passed only the general principles stage, it must still undergo further legislative review before it could become law. Those steps may include article-by-article debate, possible amendments, and approval or rejection by other institutions. Even at this preliminary stage, the vote is likely to draw scrutiny from press-freedom organizations, human rights groups and foreign governments concerned about freedom of expression.

For now, the bill signals a clear policy direction in Tehran: tighter control over how information leaves the country, harsher consequences for communicating with outside media, and a more difficult environment for those seeking to document events inside Iran.