Parliament Approves Ban on Iranians Interviewing Outlets Labeled 'Hostile'

Parliamentarians approved penalties for Iranians who interview media the state has designated as "hostile." Lawmakers voted in favor of Article 22 during a plenary session on the bill to counter foreign influence, with 174 supporting, 6 opposing and 2 abstaining out of 263 members present, according to Farheekhtegan and Khabar Fori.

↙ Article 22, as reported by Farheekhtegan, states:

- Interviews and participation by Iranian nationals in conversations with media — or individuals acting as media — that the Ministry of Intelligence has identified and publicly declared as "hostile," or media owned, managed, or funded by agents linked to tier-one or tier-two foreign governments, are prohibited except in accordance with this law. Violations would be subject to one or more punishments at degree six under Article 19 of the Islamic Penal Code. Officials are exempt from the article's provisions. (Sources: Farheekhtegan and Khabar Fori)