Iran Declares Online Support For Israel ‘A Criminal Offense’

The decision also encompasses providing services to platforms associated with Israel and facilitating the travel of Iranian citizens to the country through online means.

The Law on “Confronting Hostile Actions by the Zionist Regime Against Peace and Security”, was submitted to the parliament and approved during an open session in 2020. The legislation was recently updated by the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content.

The update also “extends to any collaboration, interaction or exchange of information with both official and unofficial entities and individuals affiliated with the Israeli regime.”

The legislation reflects Iran's long standing stance as an opponent of Israel, whose destruction it has called upon for decades, reversing the good relations the countries shared before the revolution of 1979. 

Iran has historically barred its athletes from competing against Israeli counterparts, leading to athletes intentionally losing games, forfeiting matches, or claiming injury under pressure from sports federation officials to avoid facing Israelis.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has consistently lauded Iranian athletes who refuse to compete against Israelis and as recently as September 2021, encouraged them to persist in their stance, even if facing potential repercussions from international sports governing bodies.