It's possible Iranian authorities are hoping this sentence forces Rasoulof to pull his new Competition title, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig," from the festival altogether.

Rasoulof’s is one of Iran’s leading directors and his film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, is due to premiere at Cannes film festival

Dissident Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has received an eight-year prison sentence, as well as a fine, confiscation of his property and flogging, by an Iranian court, Rasoulof’s lawyer Babak Paknia announced in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday.

Dissident Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof has been sentenced to eight years in prison as well as flogging, a fine and confiscation of his property, his lawyer Babak Paknia announced in a post on X on Wednesday.

An Iranian court has sentenced prominent filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof to jail time for "collusion against national security", his lawyer Babak Paknia said Wednesday. He said that the court had found Rasoulof guilty of "collusion against national security".