The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is proud to support the reintroduction of the Internet Reach and Access Now (IRAN) Act, bipartisan legislation led by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), with original cosponsorship from Reps. Reps. Jake Auchinclos (D-MA), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), André Carson (D-IN), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Dave Min (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Brad Schneider (D-IL), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA).
The updated bill was developed with technical assistance from the U.S. Department of State, strengthening the legislation and improving coordination across the federal government to support internet freedom initiatives. The legislation expands access to secure communications technologies—including virtual private networks (VPNs), embedded SIM (eSIM) technology, decentralized networks, direct-to-cell satellite communications, and other emerging circumvention tools. The bill promotes continued satellite coverage over Iran by pushing the FCC to refrain from intentional service restrictions and opposing international efforts to exclude Iran from satellite communications. The bill also supports cybersecurity training and access to secure, software-based tools that reduce detection risks, helping protect Iranian journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society from surveillance.
As the Iranian regime continues to censor the internet, disrupt communications, and suppress the free flow of information, expanding access to secure communications tools has never been more important. The IRAN Act would strengthen U.S. support for journalists, human rights defenders, civil society organizations, and millions of Iranians seeking uncensored access to information and secure communication with the outside world.
The violent crackdown on protesters in January 2026, paired with the regime’s continued use of internet shutdowns to suppress dissent, illustrates the urgent need for independent information and secure communications that this legislation provides. These tools are essential to protecting fundamental freedoms, supporting the Iranian people’s democratic aspirations, and advancing broader U.S. national security interests.
The reintroduction of the IRAN Act represents an important opportunity for Congress to advance bipartisan legislation that supports the Iranian people’s fundamental freedoms and access to information. The bill also complements H.R. 7622, the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act, which takes a broader approach to human rights, internet freedom, and support for civil society. Together, the measures address aspects of internet freedom, secure communications, and human rights protections in Iran.
