The Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy sharply criticized the “Countering Foreign Infiltration” bill, saying: if this bill is approved in its current form, it will effectively cut off all of the country’s international scientific relations.
Hossein Afshin, regarding the “Countering Foreign Infiltration” bill recently raised in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, called it perilous for the country’s scientific sphere.
Afshin, warning about the scientific consequences of this bill in the country, added: the implementation of such a bill would create a scientific stagnation in the country and for this reason we are seriously opposed to the bill in its current state.
According to EITNA, Hossein Afshin is the third government official under Pezeshkian to explicitly criticize the bill; earlier Mohammad-Reza Aref, the First Vice President, had stated that the counter-infiltration bill harms the country’s scientific activity.
Also, Seyed Abbas Salehi, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, had criticized the bill.
The “Countering the Infiltration of Foreign Intelligence Services and Governments or Institutions in the Country” bill was submitted to the Majles in Tir 1404; after approval of its general principles in the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, it was also approved in the public session of the Majles on Sunday 25 Mordad 1405, and review of its details continues.
So far the first two articles of the bill have been approved. This is while the government has officially opposed it and warned of consequences such as creating scientific restrictions, intensifying brain drain, and its adverse national and international effects.