Mash Donald's, Pizza Hat, and Other Blatant American-Chain Knockoffs in Iran

In mid-July, Iranians took to the streets to celebrate the nuclear deal between their country and key Western powers. To them, it signaled the dawn of a new era, one in which Western brands would take root. Tweeted Bloomberg reporter Golnar Motevalli: "McDonald's is coming, says 48-year-old gold-seller (sic) Hamid with a straight face." Although that might be true down the road, Iran and the U.S., for now, have no formal diplomatic relations. Just walk the streets of Tehran and you'll be hard-pressed to find any iconic American franchises. But Pizza Hat and Mash Donald's? Both exist in Iran, and they are thriving. Here's a closer look at some of the country's most blatant knock-offs of American chains.