Iran's Anti-Infiltration Bill Would Criminalise Academic Collaboration, But Scholars Say Western Visa Barriers Are the Bigger Threat

Iran's Anti-Infiltration Bill and the Squeeze on Academic Collaboration

Iran's parliament is advancing a draft law that would make routine academic collaboration with international partners a criminal offence. The so-called 'anti-infiltration' bill would grant Iran's intelligence agencies the power to monitor cooperation with foreign entities and would criminalise activities including co-authoring papers with international researchers, giving interviews to foreign media, and publishing in international journals without state approval. Last week, members of parliament approved several articles specifying that prosecutors must prove an individual was aware of a foreign connection before pursuing charges. The bill's general framework passed in August and now goes to the Guardian Council for constitutional review before it can become law.

The legislation has drawn criticism from scholars and international bodies including the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran. But domestic opposition has also emerged. Shahin Akhondzadeh, Iran's deputy minister of research and technology at the Ministry of Health, has warned that restricting engagement with international institutions risks compromising the country's scientific and research capacities. Negar Partow, vice-president of the International Community of Iranian Academics, called the bill's progression 'a major problem and a pressing issue', noting that Iranian PhD students have historically needed published articles in international journals to qualify for their programmes — a requirement the bill would effectively criminalise.

Yet not all scholars agree the bill is the most urgent problem. Alireza Qaiumzadeh, a research professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, argues that restrictions outside Iran represent 'a more immediate and tangible source of academic isolation'. He points to difficulties obtaining visas for conferences, research stays and academic positions abroad — even after receiving formal offers — as the barriers that worry Iranian colleagues most. An Iranian scholar based in Europe, speaking anonymously, confirmed that visa issues have prevented attendance at international conferences since 2024, and that some supervisors now avoid accepting students from Iran because of the risks involved.

Why Western Visa Barriers May Matter More Than Tehran's Legislation

Two Walls Closing In on Iranian Academics

The story reveals a dual squeeze on Iran's research community that is greater than the sum of its parts. On one side, Tehran's proposed legislation would formally criminalise the international collaborations that have sustained Iranian science for decades. On the other, Western immigration and visa policies are already making those collaborations practically impossible for many researchers. The result is a compounding isolation: even if the bill were withdrawn tomorrow, the Western barriers would remain.

Why the Bill Matters Beyond Iran's Borders

The legislation, if enacted, would have direct consequences for international research output. Iranian scientists are prolific contributors to fields including physics, mathematics and medicine. Co-authorship with Iranian researchers is common across European and North American institutions. The bill would put those foreign co-authors in a difficult position: continuing collaboration could expose their Iranian partners to prosecution, while ending it would sever productive research relationships. Partow's warning that co-authorship can 'put them in serious danger' suggests the bill's deterrent effect may extend well beyond Iran's borders.

The Western Barrier: Visas as De Facto Sanctions

Qaiumzadeh's argument that Western restrictions are the more immediate problem is significant because it shifts the locus of responsibility. Visa denials, difficulties accessing language exams, and the reluctance of universities to accept students with prior visa problems effectively exclude Iranian scholars from the global research system regardless of what Tehran does. The anonymous scholar's account — securing a position at a top European university but being unable to travel to conferences — illustrates how remote work cannot substitute for the informal networks, laboratory access and visibility that conferences and in-person collaboration provide. For context, US sanctions on Iran have long complicated academic exchanges, but the post-2024 tightening described by the scholar suggests a newer, more systematic pattern.

Domestic Opposition and the Guardian Council

The emergence of domestic criticism, including from a deputy minister, is notable in Iran's political context. It signals that parts of the government recognise the bill's potential to damage Iran's scientific standing. Whether the Guardian Council — which vets legislation for constitutional and Islamic compliance — will share that concern is unclear. The Council has previously blocked or amended bills on various grounds, but its decisions are difficult to predict. If the bill passes, enforcement would depend on intelligence agencies' priorities, creating uncertainty for researchers about what constitutes a prosecutable offence.

Winners and Losers

The clearest losers are Iranian researchers and their international collaborators, who face legal risk and practical barriers. Universities in Europe and North America that have built research links with Iran may see those partnerships atrophy. Countries seeking to attract scientific talent — including Gulf states and some European nations — could benefit if Iranian researchers emigrate, though the article does not address this. The bill's proponents would argue that national security is the winner, but the article provides no evidence of specific security threats that the legislation addresses.

What Universities, Researchers and Funders Should Consider

The most important insight: Iranian academics face a double bind — legislation at home and visa barriers abroad — that is accelerating their exclusion from global research networks, with consequences for international collaborators as well.

For Universities and Research Institutions

• Review existing co-authorship agreements with Iranian researchers: the bill, if enacted, could expose Iranian partners to prosecution, and institutions should assess whether current collaborations need adjustment or risk mitigation.
• Clarify visa support processes for Iranian scholars: the article cites cases where formal offers were made but visas denied, and supervisors avoiding Iranian applicants. Institutions that value these researchers should establish clear pathways and advocate for visa processing.
• Consider remote participation infrastructure: the anonymous scholar conducted research from Iran but could not attend conferences. Investing in robust remote collaboration tools and hybrid conference models can partially offset travel barriers.

For Researchers with Iranian Collaborators

• Understand the legal risk: if the bill passes, co-authorship without state approval could lead to prosecution in Iran. Discuss with partners whether to proceed, pause or restructure collaborations.
• Document the scientific rationale for collaboration: should the bill become law, demonstrating that partnerships are purely scientific may help mitigate risk for Iranian colleagues.

For Funders and Policy Bodies

• Monitor the Guardian Council's review: its decision will determine whether the bill becomes law. A rejection would ease immediate legal concerns; approval would require a reassessment of funding and collaboration policies.
• Assess visa policies' impact on research: the article suggests Western visa restrictions are a primary cause of isolation. Funders and universities could support advocacy for academic visa streams that separate research from broader immigration restrictions.

Metrics to Watch

• Guardian Council ruling on the anti-infiltration bill (timing not specified in the article).
• Changes in co-authored publication rates between Iranian and international researchers.
• Visa approval rates for Iranian scholars at major research universities.
• Statements from the UN Fact-Finding Mission or other international bodies on the bill's progress.