UN Urges Iran to Withdraw Draft Law That Would Criminalize Contacts With Foreigners

Overview

• This week the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran publicly called for immediate withdrawal of the draft 'Countering Foreign Infiltration' bill, saying it could imprison journalists, academics and activists for up to 30 years for contact with foreign persons or entities.
• The draft would require Iranians to declare and obtain prior approval through an online system prioritised by the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC intelligence before engaging in publishing, conferences, training, academic cooperation, artistic work or certain commercial transactions.
• The Mission says the bill’s broad wording would let security bodies route prosecutions to securitized courts such as Revolutionary Courts and could criminalize communication with UN investigators and other rights organisations, cutting off independent oversight.
• The measure remains at the parliamentary draft stage and still needs article-by-article approval in the Majles and sign-off by the Guardian Council, and the Mission has pledged to monitor, document alleged reprisals and report to the UN Secretary-General and Human Rights Council.
• Rights experts link the proposal to a wider pattern of repression since the 2022 protests, prolonged internet shutdowns and regional hostilities, and they warn the law would chill education, journalism, cultural exchange and small-scale trade for ordinary Iranians.