diff --git a/.github/workflows/require_issue_link.yml b/.github/workflows/require_issue_link.yml
index c3181d5b2a6..382d5dd70cb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/require_issue_link.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/require_issue_link.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # Require external PRs to link to an approved issue or discussion using
-# GitHub auto-close keywords (Fixes #NNN, Closes #NNN, Resolves #NNN).
+# GitHub auto-close keywords (Fixes #NNN, Closes #NNN, Resolves #NNN),
+# AND require that the PR author is assigned to the linked issue.
 #
 # - Reacts to the "external" label applied by tag-external-contributions.yml,
 #   avoiding a duplicate org membership check.
 # - Also re-checks on PR edits/reopens for PRs that already have the label.
+# - Validates the PR author is an assignee on at least one linked issue.
 # - Adds a "missing-issue-link" label on failure; removes it on pass.
 # - Posts a comment explaining the requirement on failure.
 # - Deduplicates comments via an HTML marker so re-runs don't spam.
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
       pull-requests: write
 
     steps:
-      - name: Check for issue link
+      - name: Check for issue link and assignee
         id: check-link
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
         with:
@@ -42,17 +44,45 @@ jobs:
             const pattern = /(?:close[sd]?|fix(?:e[sd])?|resolve[sd]?)\s*#(\d+)/gi;
             const matches = [...body.matchAll(pattern)];
 
-            if (matches.length > 0) {
-              const issues = matches.map(m => `#${m[1]}`).join(', ');
-              console.log(`Found issue link(s): ${issues}`);
-              core.setOutput('has-link', 'true');
-            } else {
+            if (matches.length === 0) {
               console.log('No issue link found in PR body');
               core.setOutput('has-link', 'false');
+              core.setOutput('is-assigned', 'false');
+              return;
             }
 
+            const issues = matches.map(m => `#${m[1]}`).join(', ');
+            console.log(`Found issue link(s): ${issues}`);
+            core.setOutput('has-link', 'true');
+
+            // Check whether the PR author is assigned to at least one linked issue
+            const { owner, repo } = context.repo;
+            const prAuthor = context.payload.pull_request.user.login;
+            const issueNumbers = [...new Set(matches.map(m => parseInt(m[1], 10)))];
+
+            let assignedToAny = false;
+            for (const num of issueNumbers) {
+              try {
+                const { data: issue } = await github.rest.issues.get({
+                  owner, repo, issue_number: num,
+                });
+                const assignees = issue.assignees.map(a => a.login.toLowerCase());
+                if (assignees.includes(prAuthor.toLowerCase())) {
+                  console.log(`PR author "${prAuthor}" is assigned to #${num}`);
+                  assignedToAny = true;
+                  break;
+                } else {
+                  console.log(`PR author "${prAuthor}" is NOT assigned to #${num} (assignees: ${assignees.join(', ') || 'none'})`);
+                }
+              } catch (error) {
+                console.log(`Could not fetch issue #${num}: ${error.message}`);
+              }
+            }
+
+            core.setOutput('is-assigned', assignedToAny ? 'true' : 'false');
+
       - name: Add missing-issue-link label
-        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link != 'true'
+        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link != 'true' || steps.check-link.outputs.is-assigned != 'true'
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
         with:
           script: |
@@ -63,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
             });
 
       - name: Remove missing-issue-link label
-        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link == 'true'
+        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link == 'true' && steps.check-link.outputs.is-assigned == 'true'
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
         with:
           script: |
@@ -78,25 +108,39 @@ jobs:
             }
 
       - name: Post comment and fail
-        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link != 'true'
+        if: steps.check-link.outputs.has-link != 'true' || steps.check-link.outputs.is-assigned != 'true'
         uses: actions/github-script@v8
         with:
           script: |
             const { owner, repo } = context.repo;
             const prNumber = context.payload.pull_request.number;
+            const hasLink = '${{ steps.check-link.outputs.has-link }}' === 'true';
+            const isAssigned = '${{ steps.check-link.outputs.is-assigned }}' === 'true';
             const marker = '<!-- require-issue-link -->';
 
-            const body = [
-              marker,
-              '**This PR is missing a linked issue.** All external contributions must reference an approved issue or discussion.',
-              '',
-              'Please add one of the following to your PR description:',
-              '- `Fixes #<issue_number>`',
-              '- `Closes #<issue_number>`',
-              '- `Resolves #<issue_number>`',
-              '',
-              'If no issue exists yet, [open one](https://github.com/' + owner + '/' + repo + '/issues/new/choose) and wait for maintainer approval before proceeding.',
-            ].join('\n');
+            let lines;
+            if (!hasLink) {
+              lines = [
+                marker,
+                '**This PR is missing a linked issue.** All external contributions must reference an approved issue or discussion.',
+                '',
+                'Please add one of the following to your PR description:',
+                '- `Fixes #<issue_number>`',
+                '- `Closes #<issue_number>`',
+                '- `Resolves #<issue_number>`',
+                '',
+                'If no issue exists yet, [open one](https://github.com/' + owner + '/' + repo + '/issues/new/choose) and wait for maintainer approval before proceeding.',
+              ];
+            } else {
+              lines = [
+                marker,
+                '**You are not assigned to the linked issue.** External contributors must be assigned to an issue before opening a PR for it.',
+                '',
+                'Please comment on the issue to request assignment from a maintainer, then update this PR once you have been assigned.',
+              ];
+            }
+
+            const body = lines.join('\n');
 
             // Deduplicate: check for existing comment with the marker
             const comments = await github.paginate(
@@ -112,9 +156,20 @@ jobs:
                 issue_number: prNumber,
                 body,
               });
-              console.log('Posted issue-link requirement comment');
+              console.log('Posted requirement comment');
+            } else if (existing.body !== body) {
+              await github.rest.issues.updateComment({
+                owner,
+                repo,
+                comment_id: existing.id,
+                body,
+              });
+              console.log('Updated existing comment with new message');
             } else {
               console.log('Comment already exists — skipping');
             }
 
-            core.setFailed('PR must reference an issue using auto-close keywords (e.g., "Fixes #123").');
+            const reason = !hasLink
+              ? 'PR must reference an issue using auto-close keywords (e.g., "Fixes #123").'
+              : 'PR author must be assigned to the linked issue.';
+            core.setFailed(reason);