MUMBAI: The US government has congratulated Iranian director Asghar Farhadi after his film A Separation bagged the Oscar award in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

"On behalf of all of us, to congratulate Iranian film director Asghar Farhadi on his Oscar win," said the US State Department in a statement. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the film was the first Iranian film to win an Oscar, "It really gives the world an invaluable picture of life in Iran. We applaud his achievement and celebrate the vibrancy and historical greatness of the independent film industry in Iran."
 
The film was honoured at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night.

The only other Iranian film that was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category was Children of Heaven in 1998.