MP Urges Agile Tech Governance as Iran Passes Long-Delayed AI Law at INOTEX 2026

During a specialized panel on emerging technology governance at the Iran International Innovation & Technology Exhibition (INOTEX), Taheri outlined the legislative roadmap for the national tech ecosystem. According to the INOTEX 2026 News Center, while Iran faces law inflation in some sectors, it remains under-regulated in critical tech domains, necessitating a shift toward forward-looking, streamlined policymaking.

Key legislative milestones and strategic priorities highlighted include:

• Data Governance Framework: Taheri spearheaded the "Data Management Law" (known as the Davam Law), which established the foundational infrastructure for data exchange and now underpins 47 articles of the 7th National Development Plan.
• Knowledge-Based Production Leap: He highlighted the ongoing impact of the Knowledge-Based Production Leap Law, designed to accelerate the growth and financial support of domestic tech firms, noting that its full potential is still unfolding.
• Microelectronics Bottlenecks: Identifying microelectronics as a critical vulnerability, Taheri cited past automotive production halts due to chip shortages, urging targeted investments to achieve technological self-sufficiency.
• AI Legislation Delays: Taheri expressed regret over the 2.5-year delay in passing the National AI Development Plan due to bureaucratic hurdles and lack of executive cooperation, noting that Iran dropped from a potential top-tier regulator to ranking around 140th globally as 110 other nations enacted AI laws.

Taheri concluded that while the legislative foundation is now in place, overcoming bureaucratic inertia and fostering genuine collaboration between the government, parliament, and the private sector remains essential for Iran to harness its vast scientific and motivational capacities.

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