KFC Knock-Off Restaurant Opened In Iran And Shut Down 1 Day Later

A restaurant that closely resembled KFC opened in Iran and had to shut it down after just one day.

The restaurant, called KFC Halal, opened in Tehran on November 1 and was shut down by police on November 2. Mashable reports that Iranians called KFC Halal "the first American branch" of its kind.

Police posted a notice on the restaurant's doors and that said it was closed until further noticed because the décor looks too much like the U.S. flag and "can be seen as part of American influence into Iranian culture."

"The shutting down of KFC Halal was due to a misunderstanding," Abbas Pazuki, KFC Halal store manager, told Tasnim, an Iranian news agency. "We are part of a brand known as KFC Halal, which comes from Turkey. It belongs to Muslims and its target market is Muslim nations."

The American chain announced that they had no connection with Tehran's KFC-like restaurant.

"We are shocked with the news that an illegitimate KFC outlet has opened in Tehran, Iran," a KFC spokesperson told Mashable. "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."

We will continue to update the story and follow the potential lawsuit.