As Iranian online newspapers began publishing their reactions to the nuclear deal late on the afternoon of July 14, Iranians began pouring into the streets for spontaneous celebrations over a deal that many hope will bring economic improvement and end their international isolation. Most Reformist media outlets welcomed the deal and the promises they hope it brings along with it. Conservative and hard-line media organizations expressed skepticism, though their reaction was much tamer than could have been predicted, based in their previous ones.
Reformist Ghanoun newspaper’s top headline read, “The siege on Iran has broken.” Its entire front page was dedicated to coverage of and responses to the nuclear deal. Iranian analyst and Tehran University professor Sadegh Zibakalam wrote an article headlined, “The beginning of the end of Death to America.”
Zibakalam wrote that just as Nov. 4, 1979, was a turning point, when Iranian students took over the US Embassy in Tehran and took American hostages, sparking anti-Americanism and anti-Westernism, July 14, 2015, will be another “turning point in the history of Iran and the world that will be followed by reconciliation between Iran and the world.”
He added, “July 14, 2015, is the beginning of the end of ‘Death to America.’ This day will be recorded as the end of 'Death to the West.'” Zibakalam is no stranger to controversy and has even questioned Iran’s hostile position against Israel. The “Death to America” chant in Iran is often heard at state functions such as rallies or Tehran Friday prayers that are organized by hard-liners. In October 2013, with President Hassan Rouhani in power and promises of better relations with the world, an Asr-e Iran article suggested changing the “Death to America” chant to “Death to Arrogance,” given that the term “arrogance” is a religious one and does not specify a particular country. The author argued that “Death to America” was never originally a chant of the revolution and only came about as a result of geopolitical events after it. In fact, Iran's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had once asked Iran's media to suspend airing the "Death to America" chant, though this ban was never applied.
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