{"id":333644,"date":"2025-07-01T15:33:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=333644"},"modified":"2025-07-01T18:28:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T17:28:00","slug":"irans-regime-tightens-grip-with-harsh-new-espionage-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/human-rights\/irans-regime-tightens-grip-with-harsh-new-espionage-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran’s Regime Tightens Grip with Harsh New Espionage Law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Paramilitary Basij forces parade through the streets of Semnan, central Iran, in a public show of force aimed at intimidation \u2014 November 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Three-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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In a sweeping expansion of its repressive machinery, the Iranian regime has enacted a law that weaponizes the label of \u201cespionage\u201d to crush dissent and silence opposition. Framed as a national security measure, the legislation\u2014formally titled the \u201cPlan to Intensify Punishment for Spies and Collaborators<\/a> with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries\u201d\u2014vastly broadens the definition of collaboration, criminalizing a wide range of political, cultural, and even online activity. Approved by the regime\u2019s parliament on June 23 and detailed publicly on June 29, the law primarily targets critics and dissidents under the pretext of fighting foreign interference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This law, consisting of nine clauses, redefines espionage in extremely broad terms. According to the resolution, any \u201cintelligence, espionage, and operational activity\u201d for Israel or other \u201chostile states\u201d is categorized as corruption on earth<\/em>\u2014a charge that carries the death penalty under Iran\u2019s penal code.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Criminalizing Dissent and Information Sharing<\/h2>\n

Clause after clause of the bill reveals a legal architecture designed not merely to punish spies, but to suppress dissent, control information, and tighten the regime\u2019s grip on society<\/a>. Political, cultural, and even media activity can now fall under the category of national security crimes if they are perceived to cause \u201cpublic fear,\u201d \u201cdivision,\u201d or \u201charm to national security.\u201d<\/p>\n

The law explicitly criminalizes:<\/p>\n

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  • Exaggerating losses or spreading false news.<\/li>\n
  • Sending images or videos to foreign media outlets.<\/li>\n
  • Participating in unauthorized gatherings, especially during wartime.<\/li>\n
  • Engaging in online discourse considered sympathetic to \u201chostile states.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Under this framework, even commenting on social media about internal crises or sending footage of protests can be punished by death.<\/p>\n

    In an alarming move, the law also includes retroactive provisions: it applies not only to future actions but also to past behaviors unless perpetrators voluntarily report themselves to authorities within three days.<\/p>\n

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    #Iran<\/a>\u2019s Regime Scrambles to Mask Defeat, Control Fallout After Ceasefirehttps:\/\/t.co\/qC7wxMACAf<\/a><\/p>\n

    — NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n