Iranian authorities are moving toward a sweeping new restriction on contact with foreign media, raising fresh concerns that the government is seeking to isolate the country from independent scrutiny and make it increasingly difficult for information about repression to reach the outside world.

Iran’s parliament has approved the general framework of a bill that would criminalize communication with foreign media outlets designated by the authorities as “hostile.” The proposed legislation would prohibit citizens from providing interviews, communicating with certain international news organizations or sharing information with them. Those convicted could face prison sentences ranging from six months to two years.

Although the measure has not yet become law, its preliminary approval represents a significant escalation in Iran’s long-running campaign to control the flow of information. Human rights organizations and press freedom groups say the proposed legislation could transform ordinary interactions between journalists and Iranian citizens into criminal offenses, further shrinking an already restricted space for independent reporting.

Iranian officials, however, present the legislation in fundamentally different terms. They argue that communications with foreign organizations can be exploited by hostile governments to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs. Abbas Goudarzi, a spokesman for the parliamentary presidium, said communications that facilitate foreign influence should be prohibited as a matter of national security.

The central issue is therefore not simply whether Iran has the right to protect itself against foreign interference. States routinely regulate espionage, covert foreign operations and the unauthorized transfer of sensitive national security information. The concern surrounding the Iranian proposal is its potentially broad definition of “hostile” media and the possibility that legitimate journalism, criticism and communication with international organizations could be treated as security offenses.

Under the proposed framework, outlets associated with the United States or Israel would be particularly vulnerable to restrictions. Yet the designation of an organization as “hostile” would ultimately depend on decisions by Iranian authorities, creating substantial uncertainty for journalists, researchers,........

© Blitz