Iran pushes bill to criminalize journalists’ communication with ‘hostile media’

Iran is advancing a new legislative bill designed to criminalize communication between domestic journalists and foreign organizations classified as hostile media. The proposed law specifically targets interactions with outlets based in the United States and Israel, prescribing prison sentences for Iranian citizens who grant interviews to these foreign entities.

This legislative push coincides with an intensified domestic crackdown on journalists within the Islamic Republic. By further restricting contact with international press, the bill aims to tighten state control over the flow of information and penalize unauthorized reporting or commentary directed at external audiences.