Diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States have been difficult for quite a while now, as the U.S. government has put a trade embargo on the Persian nation over their experimentation with nuclear power - and things have gotten so bad a fast food chain that was thought to be KFC Iran even shut down hours after it opened.
KFC Halal, a knockout version of Kentucky Fried Chicken created in Turkey and aimed at a Muslin audience, recently opened its doors in the Iranian capital only to be shut down hours later after authorities thought it was a real KFC Iran.
According to Foreign Policy, Abbas Pazuki, the manager of the so-called KFC Iran, recently shared with the press that the venue was shut down after authorities thought it was actually related to the original American South chain specializing in fried chicken.
BBC reports that while police thought the KFC Halal was the real KFC Iran, the head of the Iranian chamber of commerce, Ali Fazeli, has specified to the press that if the American chain would in fact ask for a license to sell in the country it'd be denied, as this is policy "in according to orders from the Supreme Leader," Ali Khamenei.
According to Mashable, there's one side to this equation that isn't more relieved upon realizing that the KFC Iran branch was a knockoff, as a spokesperson for the chain said that they might take measures KFC Halal continues.
"We are shocked with the news that an illegitimate KFC outlet has opened in Tehran, Iran," said KFC spokeswoman Laurie Schalow. "No franchise rights have been granted to any party in Iran. We are in contact with local authorities and external advisers and will be filing a legal action against any company or individuals claiming to have rights to open KFC."
The KFC Iran confusion seems fairly understandable considering there are even pictures of KFC founder and mascot Colonel Sanders in the Tehran restaurant's décor.
