Iran parliament advances foreign infiltration bill amid wartime tensions

Iran's hardline-dominated parliament has approved the broad outlines of a bill aimed at countering what it describes as foreign infiltration, in a move that would tighten controls on contact with universities, embassies and foreign media. The proposal was approved during a remote parliamentary session on Sunday, according to the supplied report, and is being presented by supporters as a national-security measure. It comes as Iranian authorities remain focused on wartime security concerns and the possibility of further military escalation.

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The draft would require citizens and entities to seek authorisation before contacting universities and embassies or speaking to foreign media. A previously published 19-article version of the bill was later followed by an updated 33-article draft, which gives a clearer picture of the scope of the proposed restrictions. The legislation still needs final ratification by parliament and approval from the Guardian Council, a powerful 12-member constitutional watchdog, before it can become law.

Supporters say the plan is intended to complement an earlier espionage law passed after last year's 12-day war with Israel and the United States. One hardline parliament member said the measure had first been approved earlier this year to counter the influence of Iran's enemies. The report says the proposal has alarmed the public, experts and some elements within the government because it could further curtail personal freedoms.

The bill matters because it would extend state oversight into areas that include academia, media and the cultural sector. The updated draft reportedly defines controlled activity with foreign counterparts broadly, covering publishing, statistics, scholarships, scientific cooperation, media work, research samples, money, goods and services, legal advice and artistic production. It would also divide countries into three tiers of scrutiny, with the United States and Israel expected to be placed in the highest tier.

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The timing adds to its significance. The controversy emerged as a deadline for a memorandum of understanding with Washington expired, while prospects of further military escalation remained in view. In that context, the bill appears to be part of a wider effort by Iranian lawmakers to tighten internal controls during a period of heightened external pressure.

The parliament that advanced the measure has been dominated by hardline lawmakers since 2020, following elections marked by historically low turnout and candidate disqualifications. That political backdrop helps explain why the proposal has moved forward despite criticism from the public and concern from some officials. The report also says the Ministry of Interior would establish a portal to manage the process, although the details of how the system would work were not fully set out in the supplied material.

What remains unclear is how quickly the bill will move through the remaining stages and whether the Guardian Council will endorse it in its current form. It is also not yet clear how broad the final restrictions would be, or how authorities would apply the proposed tiered system to foreign contacts in practice. The next developments to watch are any further revisions to the draft, the council's review, and whether the measure becomes law in the coming weeks or months.

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