February 24, 2026
Mr. McCormick (for himself, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Banks, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Collins, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Booker, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Justice, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Kaine) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
July 27, 2026
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
To promote human rights, internet freedom and accountability in Iran, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings; statement of policy
(a) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
For nearly five decades, the people of Iran have endured brutal repression under the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime that denies basic human rights, silences dissidents, and responds to peaceful protest with violence.
(2)
The people of Iran have repeatedly and courageously taken to the streets to demand economic opportunity, human rights, dignity, and freedom.
(3)
During the 2026 protests, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran responded with brutality by reportedly killing tens of thousands of people and wounding thousands more, arresting tens of thousands, and restricting internet access and telephone lines.
(4)
The people of Iran are protesting the Iranian regime’s economic mismanagement, corruption, internal suppression, and unjust executions.
(5)
Access to free expression, open information, and uncensored communication are fundamental human rights and critical to the survival of the Iranian protestors.
(6)
Thanks in part to United States-funded efforts to support human rights and open internet access, the Iranian people are consistently found to be one of the most pro-American populations in the Middle East.
(7)
The inspiring 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and its violence, particularly against Iranian women and ethnic minorities.
(8)
The barbaric so-called morality police
and other arms of state suppression have a lengthy history of repressing the Iranian people’s fundamental freedoms.
(9)
The Iranian regime has engaged in systematic efforts to intimidate, harass, detain, and harm political dissidents, activists, and journalists both within Iran and beyond its borders.
(10)
The people of Iran deserve the right to dignity, democracy, and self-determination and to be free from the brutality of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(b) Statement of policy
It shall be the policy of the United States—
(1)
to recognize the right of the Iranian people to freely determine, through free and fair elections, the future leadership of their country;
(2)
to facilitate the immediate expansion of unrestricted internet access and civilian lines of communication across Iran;
(3)
to support the internationally recognized human rights of Iranians and United States programs to assist Iranian civil society, including in their credible documentation, reporting, and accountability efforts of abuses in Iran;
(4)
to fully enforce sanctions against regime violators of internationally recognized human rights and their family members, including any family members and associates in the United States that continue to directly or indirectly provide support to the regime; and
(5)
to work in coordination with its allies to consider appropriate measures to deter further lethal violence against protesters.
Sec. 3. Improved coordination of efforts to promote internet freedom in Iran
(a) Duties of the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State shall be the Federal official with the primary responsibility for—
(1)
promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran and expanding access to information for Iranian citizens;
(2)
coordinating all efforts carried out by Federal departments and agencies that relate to digital freedom initiatives in Iran; and
(3)
serving as the principal official responsible for updating and carrying out the strategy required under section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754).
(b) Updates to comprehensive strategy To promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran
(1) Updates
Section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) is amended—
(A)
by striking Not later than
and inserting (A) Initial strategy.—Not later than
;
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (14) and (15), respectively;
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraphs:
(11)
evaluate the use of virtual private networks and direct-to-cell satellite technologies by civil society and internationally recognized human rights activists in Iran and develop strategies for increasing the accessibility of such networks and technologies;
(12)
work with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Commerce to ensure enforcement of sanctions does not impede companies providing to Iranian civilians the technology and other tools necessary to access the open internet;
(13)
assess the ability of the Iranian regime to cut off all access to the internet and develop a strategy to circumvent internet blackouts for Iranian civil society;; and
(D)
by adding at the end of the following new subsection:
(b) Updates
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall review the strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update the strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such review.
(2) Submission of first updates
(A) Submission
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall—
(i)
review and update the strategy pursuant to section 414(b) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754), as added by paragraph (1); and
(ii)
submit such updated strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(B) Form
The strategy under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
Sec. 4. Internet freedom and censorship circumvention
(a) Internet freedom report
(1) In general
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of the Treasury, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that updates and supplements the report required under section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).
(2) Additional matters to be included
Updates to the strategy required in section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) shall also include the following:
(A)
An assessment of the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless communications technologies to expand internet access for the people of Iran, including technical, regulatory, and security considerations.
(B)
An analysis of how drone-based platforms, signal-jamming technologies, and related countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security, economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell wireless communications.
(C)
A survey of terrestrial and non-terrestrial telecommunications service providers currently active in Iran, including—
(i)
whether such providers are state-owned or state-controlled;
(ii)
the extent of foreign participation or investment in such providers;
(iii)
the implications of such ownership and control for communications freedom and censorship; and
(iv)
any other relevant information to assess the opportunities and risks associated with terrestrial and non-terrestrial communications technologies in Iran.
(3) Form
The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(b) Extension and increase of authorization for Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program
Section 5124(b)(5)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a(b)(5)(A)) is amended by inserting and not less than $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030
after $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026
.
(c) Development of internet access technologies
(1) In general
The Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Defense, the United States Agency for Global Media, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall form a joint working group (referred to as the Working Group
) to support the development of low-cost, easily scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or limitations on network access abroad, particularly those imposed by adversary countries, to enable populations to overcome such restrictions.
(2) Objectives
In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (a), the Working Group shall prioritize the following objectives:
(A)
Identifying and supporting the development of technologies capable of overcoming internet blackouts and network disruptions imposed by an adversary country and facilitating internet and network access, including—
(i)
low-earth orbit satellite internet infrastructure;
(ii)
mesh networking solutions; and
(iii)
portable and deployable communication systems.
(B)
Virtual private networks (commonly known as VPNs
), including—
(i)
collaborating with industry, academia, and relevant stakeholders to accelerate the research, development, and deployment of such technologies;
(ii)
conducting pilot programs and field experiments to test the effectiveness and scalability of developed solutions in real-world settings; and
(iii)
providing technical assistance and resources to partner organizations, governments, and nongovernmental entities engaged in efforts to expand internet access.
(C)
Identifying and evaluating off-the-shelf technologies that could be rapidly procured and deployed to address internet access challenges in targeted regions.
(3) Collaboration with the Federal Acquisition Institute
The Working Group shall collaborate with the Federal Acquisition Institute to leverage expertise in acquisition processes and practices related to carrying out the objectives under paragraph (2) with the aim of—
(A)
integrating best practices in defense acquisition into the research, development, and deployment processes of technologies developed by the Working Group to facilitate internet access;
(B)
ensuring that technologies developed by the Working Group align with acquisition priorities and strategies of the Department of State and the Department of Defense;
(C)
providing training and educational opportunities for the Working Group on acquisition principles, regulations, and procedures, with a focus on technology development for countering censorship and related restrictions;
(D)
fostering dialogue and exchange of knowledge between acquisition professionals and innovation specialists to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of defense technology acquisition related to internet access technologies; and
(E)
collaborating on the development of acquisition strategies that prioritize the rapid acquisition and deployment of technologies aimed at countering censorship and restrictions on internet access.
(4) Reporting
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the United States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report detailing the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the efforts undertaken pursuant to this section.
(5) Authorization of appropriations
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 2027 through 2030 to carry out the activities described in this subsection.
(6) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 5. Identification of individuals supporting human rights violations
(a) In general
Not later than 120 days after receiving a written request from the chairman or ranking member of any of the appropriate congressional committees regarding whether a foreign person has engaged in the conduct described in subsection (b), the President shall—
(1)
determine whether the foreign person has engaged in such conduct; and
(2)
submit to such chairman or ranking minority member a written justification detailing whether the President imposed the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to such person.
(b) Conduct described
The conduct described in this subsection is knowingly providing material support for the Iranian regime’s abuses of internationally recognized human rights, censorship, or repression of the Iranian people, including—
(1)
selling, supplying, or transferring censorship technology, surveillance tools, or internet shutdown capabilities;
(2)
any conduct sanctionable under part 562 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (Iranian Human Rights Abuses Sanctions Regulations); or
(3)
any conduct sanctionable under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.).
(c) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 6. Strategy on Iran broadcasting and human rights assistance
(a) Strategy required
(1) In general
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to expand and enhance United States and international broadcasting efforts and United States programs to support the protection and promotion of internationally recognized human rights in Iran.
(2) Elements of the strategy
The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include—
(A)
a comprehensive review and assessment of current United States Government and international broadcasting efforts targeted at Iran, including Voice of America Persian Service, Radio Farda, and other relevant programs, including their reach, effectiveness, and vulnerabilities to Iranian regime censorship, as well as United States Government efforts to support internationally recognized human rights and democratic civil society, including efforts to assist in the credible documentation of abuses of internationally recognized human rights;
(B)
specific plans and initiatives to ensure the Iranian people have reliable access to accurate, uncensored, and unbiased news coverage, including through satellite broadcasting, digital circumvention tools, shortwave radio, and emerging technologies;
(C)
programs to support independent Iranian journalists, media outlets, and citizen journalists, including grants for equipment, training, secure communication platforms, and capacity-building for Persian and other local language media;
(D)
programs to support and train Iranian civil society;
(E)
coordination mechanisms with international partners, the private sector, and diaspora communities to amplify credible independent media;
(F)
annual performance metrics and benchmarks for audience reach, content impact, and program outcomes; and
(G)
a multi-year budget and resource requirements plan to implement the strategy.
(3) Form
The strategy required in subsection (a) shall be transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a classified annex.
(b) GAO report on Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) expenditures
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report examining Federal expenditures under the Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) account over fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
(2) Matters included
The report shall include—
(A)
a detailed accounting of all NERD funds obligated and expended for Iran-related programs, including broadcasting, media support, civil society assistance, and human rights initiatives;
(B)
an assessment of the processes used for grant allocation, contractor oversight, vetting of recipients, and measuring program outcomes;
(C)
an evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs in advancing United States policy objectives, including expanding information access and supporting independent media within Iran; and
(D)
recommendations for improving transparency, accountability, and impact measurement.
(c) Form
The strategy and the GAO report required under this section shall each be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(d) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 7. Cybersecurity capacity for civil society in Iran
(a) Training and tools
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish programs—
(1)
to deliver remote or in-person cybersecurity training to journalists, defenders of internationally recognized human rights, and civil-society actors in Iran;
(2)
to furnish vetted open-source or commercially available digital-safety tools, including VPN services and end-to-end encrypted messaging applications; and
(3)
to provide multilingual educational materials that warn Iranian users about regime-controlled applications and phishing campaigns.
(b) Reporting and evaluation
(1) Quarterly metrics
The Secretary of State shall track and, on a quarterly basis, make available to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives aggregate metrics on the number of trainees, incident-response cases, and unique users of supported digital safety tools.
(2) Independent evaluation
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program carried out under this section.
(c) Savings clause
Nothing in this section may be construed to supersede or limit existing authority under section 404 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) or any other provision of law related to internet freedom programming in Iran.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
There is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030 to carry out the activities described in this section.
Sec. 8. Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings; statement of policy
(a) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
For nearly five decades, the people of Iran have endured brutal repression under the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime that denies basic human rights, silences dissidents, and responds to peaceful protest with violence.
(2)
The people of Iran have repeatedly and courageously taken to the streets to demand economic opportunity, human rights, dignity, and freedom.
(3)
During the 2026 protests, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran responded with brutality by reportedly killing tens of thousands of people and wounding thousands more, arresting tens of thousands, and restricting internet access and telephone lines.
(4)
The people of Iran are protesting the Iranian regime’s economic mismanagement, corruption, internal suppression, and unjust executions.
(5)
Free expression, open information, and uncensored communication are fundamental human rights and critical to the survival of the Iranian protestors.
(6)
Thanks in part to United States-funded efforts to support human rights and open internet access, the Iranian people are consistently found to be one of the most pro-American populations in the Middle East.
(7)
The inspiring 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests demanded an end to the Islamic Republic and its violence, particularly against Iranian women and ethnic minorities.
(8)
The barbaric so-called morality police
and other arms of state suppression have a lengthy history of repressing the Iranian people’s fundamental freedoms.
(9)
The Iranian regime has engaged in systematic efforts to intimidate, harass, detain, and harm political dissidents, activists, and journalists both within Iran and beyond its borders.
(10)
The people of Iran deserve the right to dignity, democracy, and self-determination and to be free from the brutality of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(b) Statement of policy
It shall be the policy of the United States—
(1)
to recognize the Iranian people’s right to self-determination;
(2)
to facilitate the immediate expansion of open, uncensored internet access and civilian lines of communication for the people of Iran to communicate domestically and with the outside world;
(3)
to support the internationally recognized human rights of Iranians and programs to assist Iranian civil society, including in their credible documentation, reporting, and accountability efforts of abuses in Iran;
(4)
to fully enforce sanctions against regime violators of internationally recognized human rights and their family members; and
(5)
to work in coordination with its allies and partners to deter the regime's violence against the Iranian people.
Sec. 3. Improved coordination of efforts to promote internet freedom in Iran
(a) Duties of the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is authorized to be the Federal official with the primary responsibility for—
(1)
promoting widespread internet freedom in Iran and expanding open access to independent and impartial information for Iranian citizens;
(2)
coordinating all efforts carried out by Federal departments and agencies that relate the objectives outlined in paragraph (1); and
(3)
serving as the principal official responsible for updating and carrying out the strategy required under section 5124(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a).
(b) Updates to comprehensive strategy to promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran
(1) Updates
Section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) through (G) and inserting the following new subparagraphs:
(A)
An evaluation of the use of virtual private networks, centralized networks, peer-to-peer technologies, and other emerging circumvention tools by civil society and internationally recognized human rights activists in Iran and strategies for increasing open access to such networks and technologies, prioritizing tools with demonstrated effectiveness, scalability, and acceptable user security risks in the Iran context.
(B)
An assessment of United States Government efforts to cultivate and expand viable alternatives to virtual private networks, peer to peer technology, and other emerging circumvention tools.
(C)
A breakdown of any limitations or restrictions facing the development or deployment of United States Government sponsored virtual private networks, peer to peer technology, or other emerging circumvention tools to support internet freedom in Iran.
(D)
An assessment of the ability of the Government of Iran to cut off all access to the global internet in Iran, including the primary tools and technology through which they may be able to do so.;
(B)
by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(C)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:
(b) Updates
The Secretary of State and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall review the strategy under subsection (a) on an ongoing basis and update the strategy as appropriate, taking into account the results of such review.
(2) Submission of first updates
(A) Submission
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall—
(i)
review and update the strategy pursuant to section 5124(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a), as amended by paragraph (1); and
(ii)
submit such updated strategy to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(B) Form
The strategy under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(3) Additional update
Section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) is amended—
(A)
by redesignating paragraphs (11) and (12) as paragraphs (12) and (13), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting after paragraph (10) the following new paragraph:
(11)
work with the relevant Federal departments and agencies to ensure enforcement of sanctions does not impede companies providing to Iranian civilians the technology and other tools necessary to access the open internet;
Sec. 4. Internet freedom and censorship circumvention
(a) Internet freedom report
(1) In general
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of the Treasury, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that updates and supplements the report required under section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).
(2) Additional matters to be included
Updates to the strategy required in section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a) shall also include the following:
(A)
An assessment of the feasibility of using direct-to-cell wireless communications technologies to expand internet access for the people of Iran, including technical, regulatory, and security considerations.
(B)
An analysis of how drone-based platforms, signal-jamming technologies, and related countermeasures could impact the feasibility, security, economics, and resilience of such direct-to-cell wireless communications.
(C)
A survey of terrestrial and non-terrestrial telecommunications service providers currently active in Iran, including—
(i)
whether such providers are state-owned or state-controlled;
(ii)
the extent of foreign participation or investment in such providers;
(iii)
the implications of such ownership and control for communications freedom and censorship; and
(iv)
any other relevant information to assess the opportunities and risks associated with terrestrial and non-terrestrial communications technologies in Iran.
(3) Form
The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(b) Extension and increase of authorization for Iran Internet Freedom Grant Program
Section 5124(c)(5)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a(c)(5)(A)), as redesignated by section 3(b)(1)(B), is amended by striking each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026
and inserting each fiscal year through fiscal year 2030
.
(c) Development of internet access technologies
(1) In general
The Department of State, in coordination with the Department of Defense and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, is authorized to utilize existing interagency coordination mechanisms to the maximum extent practicable, to support the development of low-cost, easily scalable, and rapidly deployable technologies to counter internet shutdowns or limitations on network access in Iran to enable populations to overcome such restrictions.
(2) Objectives
In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (a), the Department should prioritize the following objectives:
(A)
Identifying and supporting the development of technologies capable of overcoming internet blackouts and network disruptions imposed by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and facilitating open, uncensored internet and network access, which could include, among other things—
(i)
mesh networking solutions; and
(ii)
portable and deployable communication systems.
(B)
Expanding access to and the effectiveness virtual private networks (commonly known as VPNs
), including by—
(i)
collaborating with industry, academia, and relevant stakeholders to accelerate the research, development, and deployment of such technologies;
(ii)
conducting pilot programs and field experiments to test the effectiveness and scalability of developed solutions in real-world settings; and
(iii)
providing technical assistance and resources to partner organizations, governments, and nongovernmental entities engaged in efforts to expand uncensored internet access.
(C)
Identifying and evaluating off-the-shelf technologies that could be rapidly procured and deployed to address internet access challenges in targeted regions.
(D)
Ensuring that any technology supported under this subsection is assessed for user safety, detectability by hostile governments, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, data protection, supply-chain risks, sanctions and export-control compliance, and risk of diversion to the Government of Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or sanctioned persons or entities.
(3) Collaboration
The Department should collaborate with relevant Federal agencies to leverage expertise in acquisition processes and practices related to carrying out the objectives under paragraph (2) with the aim of—
(A)
integrating best practices in acquisition into the research, development, and deployment processes of technologies to facilitate open, uncensored internet access;
(B)
providing training and educational opportunities on acquisition principles, regulations, and procedures, with a focus on technology development for countering censorship and related restrictions;
(C)
fostering dialogue and exchange of knowledge between acquisition professionals and innovation specialists to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of acquisition related to internet access technologies;
(D)
collaborating on the development of acquisition strategies that prioritize the rapid acquisition and deployment of technologies aimed at countering censorship and restrictions on internet access; and
(E)
ensuring that strategies aimed at the rapid acquisition and deployment of such technologies account for the specific challenges presented by the country context, including logistical barriers to large-scale technology distribution and security risks to civilians using the technologies.
(4) Reporting
The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report detailing the progress, challenges, and outcomes of the efforts undertaken pursuant to this section.
(5) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 5. Strategy on human rights assistance
(a) Strategy required
(1) In general
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to expand and enhance United States programs to support the protection and promotion of internationally recognized human rights in Iran.
(2) Elements of the strategy
The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include—
(A)
United States Government efforts to support internationally recognized human rights and democratic civil society, including efforts to assist in the credible documentation of abuses of internationally recognized human rights;
(B)
specific plans and initiatives to ensure the Iranian people have reliable access to accurate, uncensored, and unbiased news coverage, including through digital circumvention tools, shortwave radio, and emerging technologies;
(C)
programs to support independent Iranian journalists, media outlets, and citizen journalists, including grants for equipment, training, secure communication platforms, and capacity-building for Persian and other local language media;
(D)
programs to support and train Iranian civil society;
(E)
coordination mechanisms with international partners, the private sector, and diaspora communities to amplify credible independent media;
(F)
annual performance metrics and benchmarks for audience reach, content impact, and program outcomes; and
(G)
a multi-year budget and resource requirements plan to implement the strategy.
(3) Form
The strategy required in subsection (a) shall be transmitted in an unclassified form and may contain a classified annex.
(b) GAO report on Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) expenditures
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report examining Federal expenditures under the Near East Regional Democracy (NERD) account over fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
(2) Matters included
The report shall include—
(A)
a detailed accounting of all NERD funds obligated and expended for Iran-related programs, including broadcasting, media support, civil society assistance, and human rights initiatives;
(B)
an assessment of the processes used for grant allocation, contractor oversight, vetting of recipients, and measuring program outcomes;
(C)
an evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs in advancing United States policy objectives, including expanding information access and supporting independent media within Iran; and
(D)
recommendations for improving transparency, accountability, and impact measurement.
(3) Protection of sensitive information
The Comptroller General of the United States shall ensure that the report required under this subsection does not publicly disclose personally identifiable information, implementing-partner identities, sub-grantee identities, operational details, cybersecurity methods, secure communications channels, or other information that the Secretary of State determines could endanger individuals, compromise ongoing programs, or undermine the national security interests of the United States. Such information may be provided in a classified annex or otherwise protected consistent with applicable law.
(c) Form
The strategy and the GAO report required under this section shall each be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(d) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1)
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 6. Cybersecurity capacity for civil society in Iran
(a) Training and tools
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State should establish programs—
(1)
to deliver remote or in-person cybersecurity training to journalists, defenders of internationally recognized human rights, and civil-society actors in Iran;
(2)
to furnish vetted open-source or commercially available digital-safety tools, including prioritizing VPN services and other software-based solutions that minimize physical detection risks, including end-to-end encrypted messaging applications; and
(3)
to provide multilingual educational materials that warn Iranian users about regime-controlled applications and phishing campaigns.
(b) Reporting and evaluation
(1) Metrics
The Secretary of State shall track and make available to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, in classified form or otherwise protected form as appropriate, aggregate metrics on the number of trainees, incident-response cases, and unique users of supported digital safety tools. Such metrics shall be aggregated and reported biannually in a manner that protects user safety, operational security, implementing partners and the integrity of supported tools and platforms.
(2) Independent evaluation
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program carried out under this section.
(c) Savings clause
Nothing in this section may be construed to supersede or limit existing authority under section 404 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8754) or any other provision of law related to internet freedom programming in Iran.
(d) Coordination with existing programs
In carrying out this section, the Secretary of State shall coordinate with and build upon existing Iran internet freedom programs, including those established under section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (22 U.S.C. 8754a), to avoid duplication and maximize effectiveness.
Sec. 7. Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.
Sec. 8. Sanctions and export control savings clause
Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any transaction prohibited by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, the Export Administration Regulations, or any other applicable sanctions or export-control authority, except pursuant to a general or specific license, regulatory authorization or other authorization issued by the relevant agency.
Sec. 9. Derivation of funds
Amounts made available to carry out this Act shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of State.