H.R. 7380: IRAN Act
Sponsor
Eric Swalwell
Democrat · CA-14
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 4, 2026
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Why it matters
As Iran continues to censor and shut down online access, this bill would force faster U.S. coordination and set hard deadlines — including a 120-day strategy update and a 180-day FCC safeguard requirement — to keep communications tools available.
Congress also authorizes real money behind the effort: $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2028, available until expended, to carry out the cybersecurity and secure-access provisions. At the same time, the bill is careful not to override existing sanctions or export controls. It expressly says nothing in the act limits presidential powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and it does not authorize transactions otherwise barred by U.S. sanctions. It also defines key technology terms, including eSIM technology as embedded subscriber-identity-module technology that lets a user activate cellular service remotely without a physical SIM card, and VPN services as encrypted internet connections used to bypass censorship and surveillance and reach the open internet securely.
What does H.R. 7380 do?
State Department must update Iran internet strategy in 120 days
The bill makes the Secretary of State the lead federal official for internet freedom in Iran and requires the first updated strategy not later than 120 days after enactment. That update must review VPNs and Direct-to-Cell satellite tools, assess how the Iranian regime carries out internet blackouts, and coordinate with the Treasury and Commerce Departments so sanctions do not block civilians' access to technology.
FCC must bar geo-blocking over Iran for new licenses
For any FCC license, license modification, or market-access grant issued on or after enactment, the FCC must require the operator not to intentionally disable, degrade, or geo-block satellite or Direct-to-Cell coverage over Iran. The only stated exceptions are Federal law, FCC orders, or international coordination rules to prevent harmful interference, plus limited periods needed to address imminent threats to network integrity or security.
State must report within 180 days, then annually for 5 years
The Secretary of State, coordinating with the Secretary of Commerce and the FCC, must oppose International Telecommunication Union proposals that would geographically exclude Iran from satellite or Direct-to-Cell coverage. The department must submit an initial report not later than 180 days after enactment and then report annually for 5 years on ITU actions and any intentional coverage exclusions by operators.
Cybersecurity support program due in 180 days
Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of State, acting through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, must create a program for journalists, human-rights defenders, and civil-society actors in Iran. The program must offer cybersecurity training, vetted open-source or commercial tools like VPNs and end-to-end encrypted messaging, and multilingual education materials about regime-controlled apps and phishing.
Quarterly metrics and 3-year independent review required
The cybersecurity program must produce quarterly aggregate metrics covering trainees, incident-response cases, and unique users. Separately, the Comptroller General of the United States must submit an independent evaluation of the program's effectiveness not later than 3 years after enactment.
$15 million a year for FY2027 and FY2028
The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and another $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 to carry out the cybersecurity-capacity and secure-access provisions, with funds remaining available until expended. It also includes a rule of construction stating that nothing in the act limits presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., or authorizes transactions barred by sanctions or export-control laws.
Who benefits from H.R. 7380?
Iranian journalists
They could receive cybersecurity training and vetted digital-safety tools through a State Department program that must be established within 180 days after enactment, including VPNs and end-to-end encrypted messaging.
Human-rights defenders in Iran
They stand to benefit from federal efforts to expand access to VPNs and Direct-to-Cell technologies, plus multilingual educational materials warning about regime-controlled apps and phishing.
Iranian civil-society actors and activists
The Secretary of State's updated strategy, due within 120 days, must specifically examine how activists use VPNs and Direct-to-Cell services and how to make those tools more accessible during internet blackouts.
Ordinary Iranian civilians seeking open internet access
They could gain from FCC rules blocking satellite and Direct-to-Cell providers from intentionally disabling, degrading, or geo-blocking coverage over Iran on licenses and market-access grants issued on or after enactment, subject to narrow technical and legal exceptions.
Who is affected by H.R. 7380?
Secretary of State and State Department
The department becomes the primary federal coordinator on internet freedom in Iran, must submit a strategy update within 120 days, establish a cybersecurity program within 180 days, report initially within 180 days and then annually for 5 years, and work through the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.
Federal Communications Commission
The FCC must attach new license conditions for licenses, license modifications, and market-access grants issued on or after enactment so operators do not intentionally disable, degrade, or geo-block satellite or Direct-to-Cell coverage over Iran except in narrow interference or security cases.
Satellite and Direct-to-Cell operators
These companies would face a new condition of doing business through FCC licensing: they cannot intentionally cut off or weaken coverage over Iran, except when required by Federal law, FCC order, international coordination to prevent harmful interference, or limited security emergencies.
Treasury and Commerce Departments
Both departments must coordinate with the Secretary of State to ensure sanctions do not impede civilian access to communications technology, while still respecting the bill's savings clause that does not authorize transactions prohibited by OFAC sanctions or export-control laws.
H.R. 7380 Common Questions
How much funding does the IRAN Act provide for Iran internet freedom tools?
The IRAN Act authorizes $15,000,000 for FY2027 and $15,000,000 for FY2028, with funds available until expended, to support cybersecurity and secure-access efforts under Section 6.
Can satellite companies block coverage over Iran under the IRAN Act?
Generally no. Under the IRAN Act (Section 4), new FCC licenses and market-access grants must require operators not to intentionally disable, degrade, or geo-block satellite or Direct-to-Cell coverage over Iran.
How soon would the State Department have to update the Iran internet freedom strategy?
According to H.R. 7380 Section 3, the first updated strategy must be submitted within 120 days after enactment, in unclassified form with an optional classified annex.
Does the IRAN Act require reports on Iran satellite coverage exclusions?
Yes. Under the IRAN Act (Section 4), the State Department must report within 180 days after enactment and then annually for 5 years on ITU actions and intentional coverage exclusions.
Which groups in Iran would get cybersecurity help under the IRAN Act?
Under the IRAN Act (Section 5), journalists, human-rights defenders, and civil-society actors in Iran would be eligible for cybersecurity training, digital-safety tools, and educational materials.
What tools would the IRAN Act support for people in Iran?
According to H.R. 7380 Section 5, the program can provide vetted tools such as VPNs and end-to-end encrypted messaging, plus multilingual materials on regime-controlled apps and phishing.
Can the FCC still allow Iran coverage shutoffs for security reasons under the IRAN Act?
Yes. The IRAN Act allows limited exceptions for Federal law, FCC orders, international coordination to prevent harmful interference, or brief periods to address imminent network security threats (Section 4).
What does eSIM mean in the IRAN Act?
According to H.R. 7380 Section 8, eSIM technology means an embedded subscriber-identity-module that lets a user activate cellular service remotely without a physical SIM card.
Does the IRAN Act require quarterly metrics for the Iran cybersecurity program?
Yes. Under the IRAN Act (Section 5), the State Department must provide quarterly aggregate metrics, including trainees, incident-response cases, and unique users.
Based on H.R. 7380 bill text
Cost & Funding
Authorization: $15,000,000 for FY2027 and $15,000,000 for FY2028
- —Funds are authorized to carry out Sections 5 and 6, covering cybersecurity capacity and secure VPN access.
- —Funding remains available until expended.
- —The bill does not waive sanctions or export-control restrictions despite authorizing these funds.
HR7380 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 4, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Eric Swalwell
Democrat, California's 14th congressional district · 13 years in Congress
Committees: House Select Subcommittee to Investigate the Remaining Questions Surrounding January 6, 2021, Homeland Security, the Judiciary
View full profile →
Cosponsors (16)
This bill has 16 cosponsors: 10 Democrats, 6 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 12 states: Arizona, California, Florida, and 9 more.
Claudia Tenney
Republican · NY
Yassamin Ansari
Democrat · AZ
Maria Salazar
Republican · FL
Dave Min
Democrat · CA
Stephanie Bice
Republican · OK
Brendan Boyle
Democrat · PA
James Walkinshaw
Democrat · VA
Michael Lawler
Republican · NY
Nicole Malliotakis
Republican · NY
Suhas Subramanyam
Democrat · VA
Jake Auchincloss
Democrat · MA
Ilhan Omar
Democrat · MN
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Commerce Committee
1 of 54 committee members cosponsored
Foreign Affairs Committee
3 of 51 committee members cosponsored
45 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 7380 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Energy and Commerce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Feb 4, 2026
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Feb 4, 2026
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the IRAN Act, with bill text, actions, sponsors, and status.
FCC satellite licensing rules are directly relevant because the bill would impose new license conditions on satellite and Direct-to-Cell coverage over Iran.
This is the State Department bureau the bill directs to establish cybersecurity training and digital-safety support programs for civil society in Iran.
The bill expressly preserves existing Iran sanctions and OFAC-administered restrictions, making Treasury sanctions guidance central to implementation.
The bill states that it does not limit presidential authority under IEEPA, so the official U.S. Code text is directly relevant.
The bill amends and builds on internet-freedom provisions in this existing public law, including the strategy requirement cited in the bill text.
This is the statutory section the bill updates for the State Department's Iran internet freedom strategy.
The bill requires the State Department to oppose ITU actions that would geographically exclude Iran from satellite or Direct-to-Cell coverage.
The Comptroller General must produce an independent evaluation of the cybersecurity program, making GAO the relevant official oversight body.
H.R. 7380 Bill Text
“To make certain improvements relating to the coordination of efforts to promote internet freedom and access to information in Iran, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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