TEHRAN -- Iranian ministers of foreign affairs, culture, and information have been summoned to the Majlis to explain about the Hollywood delegation’s visit to Iran.

The decision to summon the ministers was made during a session of the Cultural Committee of the Majlis on Tuesday, committee member Hojjatoleslam Jalal Yahyazadeh told the Persian service of ISNA on Tuesday.
“The Hollywood delegation’s visit to Iran was discussed during the session and the committee members expressed their concern about the subject due to Hollywood’s films that have insulted Iran and some of their affronts to the Iranian nation during this visit,” he explained.
He gave no details about specific affronts.
The ministers or their relevant deputies should attend an emergency meeting of the committee on March 8 to explain about the subject, he noted.
The delegation including Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and his colleagues William Horberg, Alfre Woodard, Annette Bening, Phil Robinson, and Frank Pierson had been invited to Iran by the House of Cinema, an affiliate of the Culture Ministry.
Educational workshops on acting, directing, making documentaries and other aspects of the business have been held with the group during their visit.
The group’s visit was not welcomed by the Iranian government as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s art advisor, Javad Shamaqdari, demanded that the delegation apologize for Hollywood’s perceived past sins.
Shamaqdari said that films such as Warner Bros. “300” and “The Wrestler” were insulting to Iranians.
During a seminar attended by Sid Ganis, he remarked that no one cared about “300” and assured Iranians that no film could damage their culture and civilization.