Iran has introduced a new bill designed to counter infiltration attempts by hostile intelligence agencies, foreign governments, and external institutions, while also addressing legal gaps in anti-infiltration efforts and strengthening security management.
According to reports, Abbas Goudarzi, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament’s presidium, announced on August 16 that the parliament had passed the anti-infiltration bill.
The legislation classifies conducting interviews or engaging in discussions with media outlets funded by the United States, Israel, or their affiliates as criminal offenses, with violators facing imprisonment ranging from six months to two years. Interviews with media from other countries must be reported to Iran’s domestic intelligence agencies in advance. Unreported contact with foreign embassies, offices, or organizations could result in fines and the deprivation of certain social rights.
The bill also explicitly designates “economic crimes committed under the direction or supervision of foreign powers” as a key enforcement target, establishing enhanced sentencing rules specifically aimed at external forces attempting to infiltrate and undermine Iran’s economic security through financial channels.
The bill still needs to be submitted to the Guardian Council for constitutional review before it can officially become enforceable law.
Following the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran in late February, Iran’s judiciary has been rapidly executing individuals accused of spying or serving as agents for Israeli intelligence agencies.
Under other recent laws that Iran has tightened, these spies can face the death penalty and the confiscation of all their assets. Potential criminal acts include the dissemination of images or videos that could assist enemy forces.
Since its founding, Israel has faced constant existential threats, leading to the establishment of three major intelligence agencies.
Among them, Mossad, created in 1951, reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office and is responsible for overseas intelligence gathering, covert operations, and targeted assassinations—such as the precision killing of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and the late Supreme Leader, the elder Khamenei.
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Israel and Iran’s Pahlavi dynasty were in a friendly relationship, cooperating to counter Arab nations. At that time, Mossad had already deployed an extensive intelligence network in Tehran.
Most of these agents had overseas backgrounds. Within Iran, intellectuals, technical elites, and even dissidents within the establishment often become prime targets for US and Israeli infiltration.
Some insiders with access to the leader’s security arrangements have been suspected of supplying top-secret intelligence over the years, including travel routes, meeting times and locations, and the structure of underground bunkers. Amid external military threats, Khamenei has long relied on bunkers for safety, communicating with the outside world only through messengers.
On the other hand, Israel has persistently used technical means to breach surveillance and traffic cameras scattered across Iranian shops, homes, and street corners. With the aid of artificial intelligence, this data is cross-referenced with satellite imagery and human intelligence from the US Central Intelligence Agency, creating a complete picture.
The Hezbollah pager incident is another telling example. In April 2026, Mossad implanted micro-explosive devices into thousands of pagers purchased by Hezbollah through early supply-chain infiltration, killing or wounding many of its mid-level commanders and severely disrupting its command structure.
In mid-April this year, a large number of US-made core communication devices across Iran suddenly malfunctioned en masse. This has also compelled Iranian authorities to frequently enforce comprehensive international internet blackouts.
Over several months starting in late 2025, Israeli and US intelligence agencies, combining internal infiltration with advanced technology, pinpointed Khamenei’s exact whereabouts. Despite his usual vigilance, and amid the superficial allure of US negotiation offers, Khamenei unexpectedly revealed his location this time.
On the morning of February 28, during peak hours, and just as US-Iran nuclear talks appeared to be proceeding as planned, Israeli and US warplanes dropped over 30 bombs on Khamenei’s office compound. Trump subsequently attempted to incite Iranians holding opposition views to overthrow the current regime.
Earlier this year, similar tactics against Venezuela had inflated confidence within the White House. But this time, the US government clearly underestimated the level of unity within Iran, and also misjudged the willingness and capability of Iran’s pro-Western factions.
