The Islamic Republic's first Kentucky Fried Chicken

Haaretz -- Amir Hussein Ali-Zadeh spent five years working going through the necessary motions needed to obtain the permits, but it probably was worth it. This week he opened the first Iranian branch of Kentucky Fried Chicken, the bread crumb coated deep-fried chicken, served with a side of fries and coleslaw, one of the culture symbols of the "Great Satan."

Ali-Zadeh emphasized his is an Iranian company, not American, and that it is called "Kentucky Fried Chicken - Iran." He added that he plans to add an additional 32 dishes to his menu to suit the Iranian taste.

The company will have to meet the standards of the American company, which the Iranians still remember from the time the Shah ruled the nation.

It is unclear how Ali-Zadeh secured the permits both in Iran and the U.S., but he is sure that it will generate a large income due the chain’s popularity.

If this business venture seems odd, in light of the sanctions being imposed on Iran, one can also ask how it is that the Gulf states, which support the sanctions on Iran, intend to purchase electricity from it.

A contract that the National Iranian Oil Company signed with the Iran Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA), valued at USD 3.8 billion, states Iran will supply the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates with 3,000 megawatts daily.

Apparently these countries have expressed their willingness to purchase electricity from Iran, which plans to expand its exports to Iraq, Turkey, and Syria in the future.

Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, head of Iran‘s Atomic Energy Organization, said that within two months, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will reach its full capacity of one thousand megawatts.

Apparently Iran is working under the assumption that the sanctions will remain at their current level, and that it will continue to trade with India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, and Iraq.