New Delhi, Mar 1: Despite the verve with which it captured the dramatic escape of six Americans from the Canadian embassy during the Iranian revolution - culminating in an Oscar for best picture this year - Argo is perhaps no more than just another American red rag for the Iranians.
The chairman of Iran's Parliament and one of the key politicians in the country, Ali Larijani, said on Thursday that he didn't like movies made by "way of order" suggesting that American authorities may have forced Ben Affleck and his team to make the movie.
"I have not seen the movie and so I have no reason to congratulate Affleck," said Larijani, who is leading a Parliamentary delegation to India. He was asked if he would like to congratulate Affleck for making a movie about Iran.
"What I don't like though are movies which are made by way of order from others. I did notice Michelle Obama saying the Oscar goes to...and then I got the message," added Larijani, who is tipped to be one of the candidates for presidential elections later this year. The movie has received some criticism for over dramatizing the escape by showing Iranian Revolutionary Guards on hot pursuit of diplomats carrying guns in their hands.
Taking another swipe at the US, Larijani said that some countries wanted to control the progress of emerging countries by "dominating energy sources".
Asked about the issue of payments by India to Iran for its oil imports, Larijani said the two countries had discussed the issue at length and that there were "good results". He refused to elaborate though. Iran had earlier agreed to accept 45% of the payment in rupees with the remaining being routed through Turkey's Halkbank. The bank has now stopped payment because of tougher sanctions effective February 6. On the situation in Afghanistan, Larijani said the country was facing problems faced by terrorists and occupying forces.
"And these are interrelated. There are also some countries whose intelligence agencies are backing terrorists there," he said. He did not name Pakistan though and, in fact, when questioned by a foreign journalist if he meant Pakistan, Larijani shot back saying he meant only the US and the UK.
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