Iranians said ready to give up falafel for Big Macs

14 July 2015, 9:49 pm

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Minutes after Iran and world powers announced their deal to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for an easing of economic sanctions, a text message began making the rounds on Iranian mobile phones.

It read: “Goodbye falafel. Hello McDonald’s.”

Another text joked that the country’s ATMs would soon be dispensing US dollars instead of Iranian rials.

Tehran skyline (photo credit: CC BY kamshots/Flickr) — Tehran skyline (CC BY kamshots/Flickr)

There may not be a McDonald’s yet, but ordinary Iranians have been quick to welcome the deal as a chance to end their nation’s isolation and improve Iran’s economy after years of stifling sanctions.

There were no signs of people pouring into the streets of Tehran after the deal was announced, but that may have more to do with the stifling summer heat and the fact that most Iranians are fasting during the last days of Ramadan.

Many instead were glued to television coverage of the deal, which included a rare live feed of President Barack Obama’s address on state TV.

–AP