Iran state TV says Oscar win victory over Israel

Tehran: Iran’s state TV has described the country’s foreign film Oscar win as a victory over Israel. The Monday broadcast says the award won by The Separation succeeded in “leaving behind” a film from the “Zionist regime”, a reference to the country’s arch-foe Israel. [caption id=“attachment_226472” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Asghar Farhadi, director of Iranian film ‘A Separation’ is guided off stage after accepting the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Reuters”] [/caption] A Separation, a tale of domestic turmoil, competed in the Oscars’ foreign language category against the Israeli Footnote, about a rivalry between father-son Talmudic scholars. Traditionally, Iranian officials are dismissive of international cultural ceremonies. Iran has a long tradition of cultural achievements in cinema, literature and the arts. But clampdowns by hard-liners in recent years have included artists and others, forcing some to flee the country or work underground. AP