Iran’s Security Crackdown Runs Into Resistance From Within

Iran’s parliament is wrestling with legislation intended to prevent foreign intelligence penetration, but the debate has exposed divisions over how far state security should reach into ordinary Iranians’ contacts abroad. The measure, widely known as the "infiltration bill," would obligate citizens to obtain prior permission from the Intelligence Ministry and the IRGC Intelligence Organization for a broad set of activities involving foreign actors. Lawmakers and officials disagree on the bill’s scope. Supporters argue it responds to real security failures exposed during recent wars that revealed deep foreign intelligence access to Iran. Yet opponents — including members of the parliamentary leadership and the government — warn the draft has grown too expansive and risks placing security services in the role of gatekeepers for daily professional, academic and cultural exchanges. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has tried to strike a middle path, saying tougher measures are justified but rejecting provisions that would require security approval at every step. He has sent two consequential provisions — Articles 7 and 8, covering disclosure procedures and penalties for exceeding permit scopes — back to committee over ambiguous language. Qalibaf also pushed back on claims he would halt the bill at the government’s request, noting the legislature is not an arm of the executive. The pushback has come from across the system. Committee member Mohammad Mehdi Shahriari called the draft contrary to national interests and said it was hastily written by inexperienced lawmakers. President Masud Pezeshkian’s government has publicly opposed the bill; Hossein Afshin, vice president for science and technology, warned it could isolate researchers, accelerate brain drain and stall scientific progress. Internationally, a U.N. fact-finding mission urged withdrawal of the draft on Sept. 3 and the U.N. special rapporteur cautioned against letting intelligence services control Iranians’ contact with the world. The bill still faces revision in parliament and must obtain Guardian Council approval before becoming law. By RFE/RL