Bill to intensify penalties for “espionage” and “collaboration with hostile states.

In a controversial move, Iran’s parliament has preliminarily approved a bill to intensify penalties for “espionage” and “collaboration with hostile states.” Under this draft law, sending photos to Persian-language media outlets abroad—especially during wartime—could result in 15 to 25 years in prison.

The bill introduces dangerously vague definitions of “espionage” and “enemy cooperation,” effectively turning journalists, whistleblowers, and everyday citizens into targets. It’s widely seen as another tool to tighten the regime’s grip on information, muzzle dissent, and prevent the exposure of state violence.

As censorship deepens and the crackdown escalates, this legislation marks yet another step in the Islamic Republic’s war on truth.