The Academy Awards win in the Best Picture category by the film Argo, which depicts the rescue of six U.S. diplomats following the student takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, was seen in Iran as an anti-Iran move. Regime spokesmen claimed that the film lacked artistic and cultural value and that it distorted history. According to them, the film's win is part of the Iranophobia led by the Americans and the Zionists,[1]and behind the win lurks a Jewish-Zionist conspiracy; similar allegations of conspiracy were depicted in cartoons published by regime news sites.
Following the film's win, the Iranian regime held a conference titled "Hollywood Acrobatics," with the participation of Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini, to protest against the alleged Islamophobia of the U.S. film industry. Conference secretary Mohammad Lesani announced that Iran intends to hire French attorney Isabelle Coutant-Peyre to sue "actors and investors who participated in anti-Iran films such as Argo."[2] In addition, the Iranian daily Jomhouri-e Eslami reported that Iran would produce a 20-episode television series about "the takeover of the American espionage nest in Tehran."[3]
Nasim (Iran), February 26, 2013 Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013
In contrast to the criticism that was widespread in the country, Iranian reformist activist Abbas Abdi, who was himself one of the students who participated in the U.S. Embassy takeover, said that the Academy's choice of winning film was apolitical and that it should be respected; there is no reason, he said, why the film should not win an Oscar.
Following are several examples of statements by Iranian spokesmen and media on Argo's Oscar win, and cartoons on the issue published by the Fars news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC):
Jomhouri-e Eslami: Argo's Win Exposed The Academy Awards' Zionist Nature
A February 26, 2013 article in the Iranian daily Jomhouri-e Eslami stated: "This film was nominated in seven categories, and, in a clearly political and anti-Iran move, it won Best Picture. All the predictions regarding the Zionist [nature] of this cinema event came true.
"The film Argo... directed by Ben Affleck, who is a member of the American Democratic Party – which also includes [Presidents] Jimmy Carter and Obama – is a product of the Zionist Warner Brothers company... The investors and artists are a team comprising the Jewish [film] company Warner Brothers in Hollywood, and a group from the ruling Democratic Party – during the hostage incident at the espionage nest, Democratic president Jimmy Carter was in office, and lost the [re]election over it – and also an advisory committee from the Zionist lobby in the U.S. (AIPAC)...
"The perception among Iranians that [the criteria for selecting the winning picture] are [solely] artistic was disproven long ago – but now, [the entire] world... realizes that the Oscars, which were initially established by Zionist capital and guidance... are a political tool in America's hands."[4]
Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013. Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013.
Iranian UN Ambassador On CNN: "There Are Many Mistakes In The Movie... The Producer... Should Be Ashamed Of Producing Such A Film"
In a March 1, 2013 interview with CNN, Iranian Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaee said: "I was a member of the [Iranian film festival] for five years when I was in Iran. From the technical point of view, if I was a judge, [I would say that] this movie is a very weak movie... Compared to Lincoln, compared to Life of Pi... it did not deserve to receive [the] Oscar prize.
"First of all, there are many mistakes in the movie. For instance, you are familiar with our culture. Even the producer or the director, they were not familiar with Iranian culture. You know, in Iran when we want to say hello to somebody we say salaam. If we want to say goodbye we say khoda hafez. Even the movie, [when] they [should have said] khoda hafez, they were saying salaam. So even that much [shows that] the producer or director of the movie, they're not familiar with Iranian culture.
"And, to be honest with you, whoever in Iran saw the film, they felt insulted by America. It was politically wrong and technically wrong, and I think the producer of the film, that is known as Ambassador of Peace [i.e. George Cloony], as I heard, should be ashamed of producing such a film that from the technical point of view, political point of view, was wrong, as well as insulting a big nation like Iran.
"I would like to invite the producer and the director of the film to travel to Iran, and when they travel to Iran, the day after they will apologize [to] the big nation of Iran for producing such a weak film."[5]
Iranian Culture Minister: American Politicians Acknowledge That The Film Is Not
Realistic
Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hosseini told reporters: "Argo is an anti-Iran film, and it is very clearly lacking significant content and many artistic aspects. But from the outset, publicity and funds were invested so that this film would win an Oscar. There was a political move so that this film would win the Oscar. This is completely clear.
"Maybe they were angry that we boycotted the Oscars and did not participate in them, because of the film insulting the Prophet [i.e. Innocence of Muslims]. They were looking for a film that does not match reality. [In Argo,] we saw an inappropriate image of Iranians. Some of their [i.e. the Americans'] politicians even acknowledged that [the film] is not realistic.
"This was a political move that caused damage in the professional aspect. They lost their reputation... This is propaganda that seeks to influence the minds of the citizens of the world."[6]
Al-'Alam: The Award Announcement By Michelle Obama Was Another Sign Of The Politicization Of The Oscars
On February 25, 2013, the Arabic-language Iranian website Al-'Alam published an article stating: "Supporters of this anti-Iran film nominated it for seven Oscars, as part of their attempt to ensure that it would win by any means. Ultimately, Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, won three awards – while American film critics stressed that there were better films that were more deserving of these awards.
"Observers believe that Argo is a political propaganda film... This is scandalous; [it reached] the point where U.S Secretary of State John Kerry wished this distorted film luck the day before the awards ceremony, [and, in yet] another indication of the politicization of this award, First Lady Michelle Obama announced Argo as the winner live from the White House. This is unprecedented in the history of the Academy Awards, and it surprised observers and critics.
"Awarding the Oscar to Argo was widely criticized because of [the film's] distortion of history and its anti-Iran perspective. Even former U.S. president Jimmy Carter referred to the film's distortion of history, even though he expressed his hope that it would win."[7]
Reformist Abbas Abdi: We Should Respect The Academy's Choice Of Argo
On February 26, 2013, Abbas Abdi, who was himself one of the students who took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and who is today a reformist activist, said: "Following the announcement of the winner of Best Picture at the Academy Awards, [Iranian speakers] spoke emotionally. It would have been better had they explained why Argo shouldn't win. It's a film, not history. We have said [on other occasions] that [other] films were only films...
"[The Americans] were angry, and if we were in their place, we might have been too...
"There were occasions when [the Americans] decided to [use the Academy Awards for political purposes]. They were completely politicized during the Cold War, when they came out against [artists] such as Charlie Chaplin. Sometimes there is no need for this, but when there is, they will do it...
"We should respect their choice, and not be angry. This award was awarded by Americans at an [American] festival – not by us."[8]
Cartoons On Fars Website
Cartoons published by the Iranian news agency Fars, which is close to the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), depict the use of the Academy Awards as an American-Zionist weapon.
Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013. Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013
Fars (Iran), February 27, 2013. Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013.
Endnotes:
[1] For example, the head of the Center for Doctrinal Affairs of National Security Without Borders, Hassan Abbasi, said: "Argo is a highly political film, and the award it was granted is even more political than [the film itself]." Nasimonline.ir, February 28, 2013. Iranian Ambassador to Italy Mohammad Ali Hosseini called Argo a film "with no cultural value" and added that the Academy Award "was another link in the U.S.'s project of Iranophobia and Islamophobia." Mehr, February 27, 2013.
[2] Fararu (Iran), March 11, 2013.
[3] Jomhouri-e Eslami (Iran), March 3, 2013.
[4] Jomhouri-e Eslami (Iran), February 26, 2013.
[6] Fars (Iran), February 26, 2013; Hosseini was speaking during the Fajr International Poetry Festival.
[7] Fa.alalam.ir, February 25, 2013.
[8] Jamnews.ir, February 26, 2013.
