Sponsors (77)
Official title: To support human rights and internet freedom in Iran and hold the Iranian regime accountable for the repression of the Iranian people.
Introduced February 20, 2026 by Michael Lawler · Last progress February 20, 2026
The bill trades increased support, technology, and oversight to expand information access and punish Iranian human‑rights violators against higher taxpayer costs, added burdens on U.S. businesses, potential privacy and legal risks, and a meaningful chance of heightened geopolitical and operational risks.
People inside Iran — especially women, LGBTQ individuals, ethnic minorities, urban and rural communities — would gain more resilient access to uncensored information and communications (satellite/LEO options, mesh, VPNs, expanded broadcasting), improving their ability to receive news and organize.
U.S. efforts to identify, sanction, and recover illicit Iranian assets (FinCEN initiative, coordinated allied action, OFAC tie‑ins) would increase accountability for human‑rights violators and kleptocrats and improve chances of asset recovery and prosecutions.
Congress and the public would get clearer oversight and transparency on U.S. Iran policy through required reports, written determinations, and annual performance metrics, improving accountability for executive-branch actions.
A broad range of U.S. actions to expand access, name actors, and escalate sanctions could increase geopolitical tensions with Iran and allied states, risking retaliation or deeper U.S. involvement.
New programs, pilots, broadcasting support, and expanded FinCEN/asset‑tracking activity would raise federal spending and administrative costs borne by U.S. taxpayers.
Public naming, unclassified reporting, and compelled determinations could produce reputational, legal, and due‑process harms to individuals and U.S. companies if information is inaccurate or premature, exposing them to market and legal risks.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Directs updated internet‑freedom strategy, creates a FinCEN kleptocracy initiative, authorizes DIU pilots for communications tech, and requires Treasury and presidential reports on sanctions and regime enablers.
Requires U.S. agencies to expand strategies and tools to support internet access and free expression in Iran, strengthen sanctions and financial investigations against Iranian regime figures and parastatal entities, and boost assistance for independent Iranian media. Creates a FinCEN “Iran Kleptocracy Initiative,” tasks Treasury and intelligence partners with a detailed sanctions and exposure report, directs the State Department to update an Iran internet‑freedom strategy, establishes a Defense Innovation Unit role with small authorized funding to develop and pilot low‑cost communications technologies, and mandates presidential responses to congressional queries about individuals suspected of enabling repression.