Iran Condemns Hollywood Movie '300'

Iran has condemned the new Hollywood film "300," saying its portrayal of a 2,500-year-old battle is an aspect of "cultural and psychological warfare" against Iran.

The comments by government spokesman Gholam-Hussein Elham are the latest condemnation of the film in Tehran, where officials have called it insulting to Iranians.

A group of members of parliament have urged Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki and Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hussein Saffar-Harandi to ask other Muslim countries not to show the "anti-Iranian" movie.

The film tells the story of the battle of Thermopylae, in which 300 Spartan warriors led by King Leonidas heroically fought off an attack by a massive Persian army.

The film depicts the Persian army as ruthless but repeatedly outsmarted by the Greeks, who are only defeated in the end by treachery.

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