The Muslim filmmaker directed The Salesman, which won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.
Anousheh Ansari, who presented the award, read out Farhadi’s statement from abroad, which referenced President Trump’s immigration ban for seven majority Muslim countries.
It said: “It’s a great honour to be receiving this valuable award for the second time.
“I’m sorry I’m not with you tonight, my absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of the other six countries who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans immigrants from seven countries to the US.”
He added: “I am there in spirit and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The Salesman will be released in UK cinemas on March 17, 2017.