Iran plans to sue Hollywood over 'unrealistic portrayal' of country in Argo

Ben Affleck, star and director of Argo

Iranian authorities are reported to be planning to sue Hollywood over the Oscar-winning Argo because of the film's allegedly "unrealistic portrayal" of the country.

Several news outlets, including the pro-reform Shargh daily, said today that French lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre is in Iran for talks with officials over how and where to file the lawsuit.

Ms Coutant-Peyre is also the lawyer for notorious Venezuelan-born terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, known as Carlos the Jackal.

The decision on the lawsuit came after a group of Iranian cultural officials and movie critics screened the film in a closed audience in a Tehran cinema late last night.

Last month Iranian officials dismissed Argo as pro-CIA, anti-Iran propaganda.

The film is based on the escape of six American hostages from the besieged US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.

AP