In Iran, contact with foreigners could soon be a crime

Iran's rubber-stamp parliament recently approved the broad outlines of a bill imposing new restrictions on contacts with foreign institutions, media and organizations, as authorities seek to expand the legal framework for combating what they describe as "foreign influence."

Under the version advanced on Sunday, contacts with foreign media, cooperation with overseas universities and research institutions, communication with foreign embassies and organizations, and the receipt of foreign financial support could be banned, require prior authorization or carry criminal penalties .

The text is still subject to final approval and must be passed by the 12-member Guardian ​Council before ⁠becoming law. Although Iran ostensibly holds elections for parliament, any candidate must be approved by the unelected Guardian ​Council, which is loyal to the Islamic Republic's ruling clerics.

Proponents of the bill say it is in response to increased activities of foreign intelligence services, governments and institutions. They also argue that while espionage is already covered by Iranian law, there is no clear legal framework for addressing foreign "influence."

Sina Yousefi, an Iranian lawyer and legal expert based in Germany, said the legislation leaves the boundary between legitimate contact and foreign influence unclear in many of its provisions, with the interpretation of that boundary effectively left to security institutions and the courts.

"When a citizen does not know whether speaking to foreign media, cooperating with a foreign university or sharing information could later be treated as a criminal act, the law creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity," Yousefi told DW.

Iran already has one of the most repressive media environments in the world, ranking 177 out of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2026 World Press Freedom Index .

The government runs all broadcast networks , foreign media is barred from broadcasting in Iran, and authorities frequently block the internet and social media during civil unrest, as was seen during a bloody crackdown on protests in January 2026.