Iran Flag: Meaning, Colors, and Full History (Ancient to Current)
This page covers the full history of the Iran flag, compares the old Iran flag to today's design, and shows a complete Iran flag timeline from ancient Persia flags to present day flags.
The current Iran flag is a green-white-red tricolor adopted after the 1979 revolution. The colors of the Iranian flag represent courage, peace, and growth; the red national emblem sits at the center. Along the green and red bands, "Allahu Akbar" appears 22 times in stylized Kufic script. See the full history of the flag of Iran and older flag versions below.
Current Flag of Iran - Quick Facts
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Years: 1979- Present
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Colors: Green, White, and Red
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Emblem: Stylized "Allah" in Red
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Inscription: "Allahu Akbar" repeated 22 times
The old flag of Iran, also known as the Lion and Sun flag, was the national symbol of Iran before the 1979 revolution. Featuring a lion brandishing a sword beneath a rising sun, it represented strength, power, monarchy, and Persian heritage. Look below to learn how the Iran flag before the revolution evolved across Qajar and Pahlavi eras and how it differs from earlier and current designs.
Lion and Sun Flag - Quick Facts
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Years: Standardized under Pahlavi era (1925-1979); roots in Qajar period(1789-1925)
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Replaced: After the 1979 Revolution
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Colors: Green, White, and Red
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Emblem: Lion & Sun
Complete Iran Flag Timeline
This complete timeline traces the evolution of the Iran flag and imperial Persian flags from ancient Persian empires to today.
What do the colors of the Iran flag mean?
The Iran flag colors(green, white and red) carry deep symbolism. Green represents Islam, nature, fertility, and vitality; white stands for peace, freedom, and monotheism; red signifies courage, sacrifice, and the blood of martyrs. Together, the current flag of Iran blends religious and cultural meaning.
What was the Iran flag before 1979?
The old Iran flag, also called the Lion and Sun flag, featured a lion holding a sword beneath a rising sun on a green-white-red tricolor. This emblem, tied to monarchy, astrological traditions, and Shia symbolism, represented power, kingship, and Persian heritage. Used prominently under the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties, it remained the national symbol until the 1979 Revolution. Today, the Lion and Sun endures as a cultural emblem for many Iranians worldwide, especially within the diaspora.
Why did the Iran flag change?
The Iranian flag changed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution as the new government sought to break from symbols of monarchy. In 1980, the Lion and Sun emblem was replaced by a stylized red “Allah,” combining crescents and a sword to reflect the Islamic Republic’s ideology. The phrase “Allahu Akbar” was also added 22 times, marking the date of the Revolution. While this design is the current flag of Iran, many Iranians still see the change as a loss of national tradition and continue to regard the Lion and Sun flag as a meaningful emblem of Iran’s deeper cultural identity.