Affleck says continued Iran tensions make 'Argo' topical Given current diplomatic tensions over Iran, Ben Affleck says his new spy thriller "Argo" couldn't be more topical, even though it is set more than 30 years ago. The film, which Affleck both directs and stars in, is based on the CIA's role in smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran in 1979 under the unlikely guise of a fake movie production.