Maya Neyestani: "Asghar, take your award and run before Madonna kisses you!"
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has been on a roll lately, winning the Best Foreign Language Film awards at the BFCA [Broadcast Film Critics Association] and the Golden Globe. He is on his way to the Oscars. But while many in Iran are congratulating Farhadi and celebrating his success, this has infuriated the hardliners....
Ashgar Farhadi's Nader and Simin: A Separation wins Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globe Awards last night --- in his acceptance speech, Farhadi says simply, "Iran is truly a loving people"
2103 GMT: All-Is-Well Alert. Mohsen Qamsari, the head of international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company, has insisted that Iran is maintaining the sale of oil to Asian countries despite US pressure for tightened sanctions.
Qamsari said, "The one-year contract with Korean companies to buy our oil has been renewed since the last two months."
Earlier this month, officials said refiners in South Korea --- which buys about 10% of its crude from Iran --- were looking for alternatives.
Asked whether Japan had reduced its oil imports from Iran, Qamsari said, "It is not true. The time for renewal of contracts with the Japanese is around March and they are buying 240,000 barrels from us per day."
The official also denied any problems doing business with India, even though there have been problems over payment arrangements for more than a year.
A sequel to Asghar Farhadi's "Nader and Simin: A Separation", winner of national and international awards, stars the Supreme Leader and the Iranian President:
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 7:27
