Iran 'To Sue Hollywood Over Oscar Winning Argo's Unrealistic Portrayal Of Hostage Crisis Of 1979'

Iranian authorities are reportedly planning to begin legal proceedings against Hollywood over the Oscar-winning film Argo’s “unrealistic portrayal” of the country.

Daily newspaper Shargh states French laywer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is in Iran to discuss the legal aspects of the case, AP reports.

It comes after Iranian cultural officials and film critics screened the movie in a closed audience in a Tehran theatre on Monday.

Actor/ director Ben Affleck poses in front of a poster promoting his Oscar-winning movie Argo

In February, Coutant-Peyre attended a conference in Tehran which denounced “Hollywoodism”, and described Argo as one of a handful of films that are “weapons of mass destruction against humanity”, The New York Times reported.

Coutant-Peyre married Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, better known as Carlos the Jackal in 2001, and is known for her work defending the rights of the Palestinian people.

Argo sees director Ben Affleck play Tony Mendez, a CIA agent charged with bringing home safely six Americans trapped in Iran, following the Revolution of 1979.

Semi-official Iranian news agency Fars denounced the winning picture as an “anti-Iranian movie” produced by Hollywood “Zionists”.

French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is reportedly in Iran to discuss the legal aspects of the case

On Tuesday, Fars reported on a talk given by Kenneth Douglas Taylor, the former Canadian ambassador to Iran, who is portrayed as the hero who sheltered the diplomats in the Canadian embassy and helped them leave the country on fake passports.

It quotes Taylor, who addressed students at Ryerson University, as taking “issue with a myriad of creative liberties that included the ‘black and white’ portrayal of Iranian people.”

Taylor reportedly referred to Affleck as having “had no idea what he’s talking about”, adding: "The movie maybe didn't give a chance that there's another side to Iranian society which is unfortunate - that is a more conventional side, a more hospitable side and an intent that they were looking for some degree of justice and hope and that it all wasn't just a violent demonstration for nothing.”

According to The Sun, City Council member Masoomeh Ebtekar, who was one of the students who took part in the occupation, has said the film exaggerates the violence among crowds that stormed the compound.