On January 12, 2026, the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) updated its Iranian flag emoji to reflect the pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag, a symbol associated with opposition groups protesting the current Iranian government. This change, made in response to a user request, has led to the display of the historical flag on official Iran government accounts, prompting criticism and swift removal of the emoji by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The move has drawn attention to the symbolic significance of the flag in global demonstrations, including recent protests in Los Angeles and London.
The current national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran features horizontal green, white, and red stripes with the Islamic emblem and the Arabic Takbir ("Allahu akbar") written 22 times in white Kufic script along the edges of the green and red bands.
The pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag, which was officially adopted on October 7, 1907, was replaced after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and is now banned from public use in Iran.
The Lion and Sun flag has become a protest symbol during recent anti-government demonstrations, with demonstrators in Los Angeles and London carrying it during rallies.
While X updated the emoji on its web and iOS platforms, other major platforms like Google and Facebook continue to use the official tricolor flag, and the change is not available on X’s Android app.
The change on X occurred amid an internet blackout in Iran, limiting the ability of protesters on the ground to see the update.
flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Factsheet
Use National flag and ensign
Proportion 4:7 (de jure; see below)
Adopted 29 July 1980; 45 years ago (1980-07-29) (current version, representing the Islamic Republic)
Use National flag and ensign
Proportion 4:7 (de jure; see below)
Adopted 29 July 1980; 45 years ago (1980-07-29) (current version, representing the Islamic Republic)
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Flag_of_Iran
Flag of Iran - Wikipedia
10 hours ago - The national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a tricolour of equal horizontal bands of green, white, and red, featuring the Islamic emblem in red centred on the white band, and the Arabic Takbir written 11 times each in white Kufic script along the edges of the green and red bands.
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › topic › flag-of-Iran
Flag of Iran | History, Meaning & Symbolism | Britannica
2 weeks ago - Horizontally striped green-white-red national flag with a red design (a stylized coat of arms) in the centre and Arabic inscriptions along the edges of the stripes. The flag has a width-to-length ratio of 4 to 7.Iran’s Lion and Sun emblem ...
In the News
NUFDI
nufdiran.org › home › resources › the true flag of iran
The True Flag Of Iran - NUFDI
December 2, 2024 - Green represents faith, white symbolizes peace, and red represents courage. PRESENT Today, the motif of the lion changed to represent a “passant” or standing lion that holds a saber in its paw.
Videos
06:02
Amid Protests, Iran Flag At Its London Embassy Replaced With This ...
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Protester tears down Iranian flag at embassy in London | CNN
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Protester rips down Iranian flag from balcony of London embassy ...
03:11
Iran Protest Breaking: UK Protester Tears Down Iranian Flag Outside ...
04:14
Why is X changing Iran’s flag emoji? What the lion and sun ...
💪🏻💚 Iranian Protester Storms Embassy in London, Rips ...
What’s going on with Iran’s flag?
Friendly reminder that all top level comments must: start with "answer: ", including the space after the colon (or "question: " if you have an on-topic follow up question to ask), attempt to answer the question, and be unbiased Please review Rule 4 and this post before making a top level comment: http://redd.it/b1hct4/ Join the OOTL Discord for further discussion: https://discord.gg/ejDF4mdjnh I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. More on reddit.com
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3 days ago[ Removed by moderator ]
Symbolic but it is funny seeing Iranian officials remove their flags by their names or in their bios lol. More on reddit.com
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3 days agoSecular version of the current flag of Iran (maintaining the design)
So, I decided to make this flag of Iran which maintains the design choices of the actual flag but changes the symbolism. As many may be aware, the current flag is rich in Islamic symbolism, but this design changes this in the following ways: The emblem in the middle is just a tulip (similar to the original) but without all of the Islamic symbolism. The tulip is seen as a symbol of patriotism and self-sacrifice, stemming from a legend that a red tulip grows on the grave of every Iranian who gives his life for the country. The text on the bottom of the green bar and top of the red bar is no longer the Takbir, but says "Long live Iran" in a similarly stylized script. Lastly, the number of petals and the number of times that the phrase "Long live Iran" appears on each bar is 5, due to the fact that the existence of the Iranian people spans five millennia, starting around the middle of the 2nd millennium BC and now in its fifth millennium (years 2001-3000). Also, for those who aren't familiar with the symbolism of the actual flag, I strongly suggest you read up on it on wikipedia. Regardless of one's political or ideological views, it must be admitted that the Iranian flag is one of the most beautiful flags both aesthetically speaking and due to the tremendous amount of thought that seems to have gone into the design. More on reddit.com
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November 30, 2019Does anyone know what flag that is?
Derafsh Kaviani, an ancient Persian flag
More on reddit.com 41
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December 12, 2019Iran International
iranintl.com › en › 202601094227
X changes Iran flag emoji to lion and sun symbol in support for protests | Iran International
3 days ago - The previous emoji reflected the flag of the Islamic Republic, which features a red emblem introduced after the 1979 revolution. The lion and sun motif was used on Iran’s flag for centuries before being removed following the revolution and is now widely associated with Iran’s pre-revolutionary era.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/outoftheloop › what’s going on with iran’s flag?
r/OutOfTheLoop on Reddit: What’s going on with Iran’s flag?
3 days ago -
I’ve seen a lot posted about Iran’s flag being updated. What is the significance?
https://nufdiran.org/resources/the-true-flag-of-iran/
Top answer 1 of 5
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Answer: There a currently mass protests going on in Iran against the regime. The “Lion and Sun flag”, the flag of Iran become the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has become the symbol for opposition to the country’s current theocratic regime. Variants of the “Lion and Sun” symbol were featured on Iranian flags from at least the 1700s. The Lion-and-Sun on a tricolor was adopted as the national flag in 1907. It remained the national flag, with minor changes, until the 1979 revolution. After the Revolution, the theocratic authorities adopted a new flag that symbolically emphasized Islam (ironically, the lion and sun also originally had a Shia religious connotation, but the symbol had become more secular over the centuries). It banned the lion and sun flag. The lion and sun flag remained in use among the Iranian diaspora. It was initially mostly associated with the monarchist exiles, but has since come to be widely used by non-monarchists as well. By using the pre-revolutionary flag, protestors and their supports are voicing a rejection of the very foundations of the Islamic Republic.
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answer: Iranian here. The flag was changed after the Islamic Revolution to be a more Muslim oriented flag. With recent uprising of protests against the Islamic Republic, people are calling back the old flag as a symbol of wanting the old monarchy back and wanting back the exiled prince.
American Flags Express
flagsexpress.com › home › flags (state, world, military, etc.) › flags of the world › iran flag
Iran Flag | American Flags Express
Iran flag
American Flags Express sells the highest quality Iran flags. They are 100% Made in the USA. Give us a call. We'd love to help. Nylon Flags are 100% Made in the USA. Fast shipping. Available in 2 different fabrics and many different sizes. If you need help selecting the correct flag for your conditions call our office during normal business hours. We love to help our customers.
All material types made with durable canvas header and 2 grommets.
MATERIAL TYPES & APPLICATIONEndura-Nylon – Long-lasting, in normal to high-wind conditions (Commercial Quality) - 100% Made in the USAExtra Reinforce
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Lion_and_Sun_flag
Lion and Sun flag - Wikipedia
7 hours ago - The Lion and Sun flag is a historic Iranian national flag consisting of a green-white-red horizontal tricolour charged with the Lion and Sun emblem. It served as the state flag of Iran from 1907 until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after which ...
Adobe Stock
stock.adobe.com › search
Iran Flag Images – Browse 54,927 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video | Adobe Stock
August 7, 2025 - Search from thousands of royalty-free Iran Flag stock images and video for your next project. Download royalty-free stock photos, vectors, HD footage and more on Adobe Stock.
The Jerusalem Post
jpost.com › middle-east › iran-news › article-882874
X replaces Iranian regime flag emoticon with pre-Islamic revolution lion and sun flag
2 days ago - The flag previously used on X was one imposed by the Iranian regime following the Islamic revolution. First flown in 1980, that flag features similar green, white, and red stripes with a red emblem of the regime in the center.
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › flagsoftheworld › posts › 8722553151092663
Iran's old and current flag comparison
We cannot provide a description for this page right now
Flags.com
flags.com › home › international flags › international flags › iran flag
Iran Flag - Islamic Republic of Iran Flag - Iran Islamic Republic Flag
Iran Flag
Our flags of Iran are crafted in the US from nylon, a lightweight fabric that flies easily, even in mild weather. Nylon is also a quick-drying fabric that helps prevent mildew buildup after contact with water. The tricolor and national emblem are digitally printed for intricate, precise details and vivid colors.
These Iran flags have a sturdy canvas heading and brass grommets for straightforward attachment to an outdoor flagpole. We offer the Iranian flag in sizes 2’ x 3’, 3’ x 5’, 4’ x 6’, 5’ x 8’, and 6’ x 10’. Refer to our table of common flagpole heights and our recommended flag size to h
Price $63.50
United States Department of State
2021-2025.state.gov › home › iran › iran flag
Iran Flag - United States Department of State
August 6, 2018 - Iran Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is ...
Fox News
foxnews.com › world › protester-scales-iranian-embassy-in-london-tears-down-regime-flag-hoists-pre-revolution-symbol
Iran Embassy London flag torn down, replaced with pre-1979 symbol | Fox News
A protester stands on the balcony of the Iranian Embassy in London after replacing the Islamic Republic’s flag with Iran’s pre-1979 "Lion and Sun" emblem during a demonstration. Video and images of the incident circulated on social media.
Published 2 days ago
X
x.com › MarioNawfal › status › 2009602812796403723
Mario Nawfal on X: "🚨🇮🇷 BREAKING: 𝕏 MOVES TO UPDATE IRAN FLAG EMOJI A request to change Iran’s flag emoji to the original Lion and Sun design is now in progress on X. After being tagged, Nikita Bier (Head of Product) replied “give me a few hours,” then confirmed the update is underway and should https://t.co/1su3U1a1XV" / X
BREAKING: 𝕏 MOVES TO UPDATE IRAN FLAG EMOJI A request to change Iran’s flag emoji to the original Lion and Sun design is now in progress on X. After being tagged, Nikita Bier (Head of Product) replied “give me a few hours,” then confirmed the update is underway and should go live on ...
Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org › wiki › File:Flag_of_Iran.svg
File:Flag of Iran.svg - Wikimedia Commons
June 25, 2025 - Flag of Iran, based on the official standard issued by ISIRI.
Amazon
amazon.com › Historic-Iran-Iranian-Crown-Banner › dp › B015YUT8HG
Amazon.com : Historic Iran Iranian Flag 3'x5' Lion Sun Crown Banner : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Old Historic Iran Iranian Flag 3x5 Ft Quality Polyester Bright Colors Brass Grommets Constitutional Revolution Iran Flag lion
Amazon
amazon.com › Historic-IRANIAN-LION-FLAG-IRAN › dp › B008X3FDNA
Amazon.com : Per 3'x5' Historic Iranian Lion Flag, Old Iran : Outdoor Flags : Patio, Lawn & Garden
Masquita Old Iran Persia Lion Sun Flag 3x5FT Indoor Outdoor Vivid Color Double-Stitched Edges and Flags with 2 Brass Grommets.
National Geographic
nationalgeographic.com › home › history › why iran’s flag is at the center of controversy at the world cup
Why Iran’s flag is at the center of controversy at the World Cup
November 29, 2022 - Here’s what you need to know about the flag and the potent meaning of its motifs. Both the official Iranian flag and the pre-revolutionary flag that is sometimes flown in protest share horizontal stripes of green, white, and red.
The Guardian
theguardian.com › world › 2026 › jan › 10 › protester-pulls-down-national-flag-from-iranian-embassy-in-london
Protester pulls down national flag from Iranian embassy in London | Iran | The Guardian
2 days ago - Social media footage appeared to show a man replacing the flag with the pre-Islamic revolution lion and sun flag, often used by opposition groups in the country. The Iranian embassy later posted a picture on its X account of the flag back in place with the caption “Iran’s flag is flying high”. The Metropolitan police said an estimated 500 to 1,000 people attended the protest on Saturday at its peak in Kensington.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/worldnews › [ removed by moderator ]
X changes Iran flag emoji to lion and sun symbol in support ...
3 days ago - The tulip represents martyrdom, which is ironic because hundreds of thousands were essentially martyred during the Iran-Iraq war. Children were chained together and forced to cross mine fields in order to clear mines with their deaths.