( CNN ) By the elation online and in the streets , you 'd think Iran had just won the World Cup . But this is bigger . Iranians erupted in celebration as young people waved flags from their sunroofs , blasted music from stereos and chatted online with the hashtag # IranTalks . The excitement came after a breakthrough nuclear deal with the United States and other world powers that promises to end Iran 's international isolation under years of crippling sanctions . Just before midnight on Thursday , Vali Asr street , one of Tehran 's main thoroughfares , turned into something like a block party . Car horns blared . Men danced in the middle of traffic . Some people flaunted U.S. dollar bills . It was a fitting double occasion : The agreement was struck on the final day of Persian New Year festivities , symbolizing a fresh start . Milad , a 20-year-old university student among the crowds , told CNN he was happy about the accord but wary about his own future . `` I still believe I 'll have a hard time finding a job that pays well , with or without this deal . '' Another Tehran resident , Alireza , 37 , said `` Things ca n't get worse than they are so , I 'm happy with this news . '' `` This is pretty historic and I pray that my children will be able to live in an Iran that can play nice with the international community . '' At home that evening , families watched as Iranian state television broadcast U.S. President Barack Obama 's speech live , which came for many as a surprise . Some Iranians celebrated the moment by snapping selfies in front of the TV . Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif — who led the Iranian negotiation team — received a hero 's welcome as he arrived in Iran on a sunny Friday morning . `` Long live Zarif , '' crowds chanted as the vehicle rolled slowly down the packed street , carrying the man who struck the historic deal . Other videos posted to social media showed Zarif mobbed by fans in Switzerland , who yelled `` We love you , Zarif ! '' Lausanne : Zarif joins Iranian students cheer `` Zarif We Love You '' outside press conference at # IranTalks . pic.twitter.com/S2dVzeAsZl . Negar Mortazavi , an Iranian-American independent journalist , celebrated with her friends in the United States by singing `` Bayram Mubarak , '' a New Year song . Happy New Day , New Year , New Era . # IranTalks pic.twitter.com/OuGE3pu8Z1 . She closely followed the reaction from Iranians around the world and told CNN she saw an `` explosion '' of joy when the deal was finally struck . `` I did n't expect so many people to follow it so closely , but from the result , I can tell everyone was following . '' `` After 35 years of animosity , U.S. and Iran diplomats shook hands and stood by each other in public ... everything is just pushing this forward . ''
Iranians celebrate deal online and in the streets .