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The tricolours of the flag will be;

Green expresses life and nature
This colour also represents the green nature of the Caspian Sea in the Northern parts of Iran, the Oak Forests of Zagros, the Persian Gulf and the Arasbaran regions.

White expresses freedom and peace
This colour also represents the Dasht-e Kavir, also known as Kavir-e Namak (Great Salt Desert) in central Iran; to the white Martian Mountains in Chabahar and the white snowy peaks of Damavand, Alam-Kuh, Sahand, Sabalan and the two main mountain ranges of Zagros and Alborz.  

Red expresses courage and bravery
This colour also represents the redness of the beaches of Hormuz in southern Iran, Maharloo and Lipar lake to colourful mountains of Aladaglar and the beauty of the Semnan Desert Red Mountains. 

The emblem of the flag will be The Lion and Sun (Persian: شیر و خورشید‎, Shir o Khorshid);

The Lion represents strength and vitality. It symbolizes Iran as a whole and a united nation under one flag.

The Sun represents life, energy and a source of hope and the dawning of a new day in the colourful ancestral land.

The Sun in this flag has 21 rays, standing for the rebirth and renaissance of the Iranian culture under one united flag representing the nation, its culture and history. The number 21 also symbolizes protection, comfort and patience. Furthermore, it celebrates The International Day of Nowruz (new day), which occurs on the 21^st of March, and is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Throughout History, Iran was going through war after war. The Sword was placed into the lion’s right hand by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar during his reign from 1789 to 1797 and was used up until 1979. The sword symbolized power and bravery and the design was inspired by the battle swords used by the Ottoman Empire; however the Lion in this new flag concept is in a defensive formation and rather than holding a sword, the Lion is holding an Achaemenian spear topped with a blossoming Pomegranate Flower (Golnar).

The same design can be found at Persepolis (about 500 BC) which shows the flower in the hand of the Achaemenian King, Darius. The Pomegranate Flower in this flag represents, love, the sanctity of human life and alliance. An alliance of all cultural and religious backgrounds from East to West and from North to South of the Iranian nation.

The Lion’s mane in this flag is comprised of three levels with 11 (intuition), 9 (wisdom) and 7 (fullness in life) sections of the mane (fur) just below the head of the lion.

The number 7 also represents Haftsin (Persian: هفت‌سین), which is an arrangement of seven symbolic items whose names start with the letter S or “س” (pronounced as “seen”), the 15th letter in the Persian alphabet; “haft” (هفت) is Persian for “seven”. It is traditionally displayed at Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

The Lion’s tale is topped with a blossoming Lutos which symbolizes strength, resilience, rebirth and triumph over obstacles. This blossom is placed on the letter S, referring back to the letter S “س”, in the Haftsin (Persian: هفت‌سین). Also, the shape of the letter S is a symbol of the Iranian cross or the round flower.

The base of the Lion and the Sun motif is comprised of 12 small Lotus flowers. Representing the twelve months of the Iranian calendar. The engraving of the Lotus flower can also be found at Persepolis. The twelve-petalled Lotus first appeared on the first “national flag” of Iran – Derafsh Kaviani, by the late Sasanian era (224–651). The twelve petals within the flower represent the twelve months encircling the sun and are based on the solar Jalali calendar.

This flag was designed in September/October of 2022 to represent a new flag idea for the new and democratic Iran while preserving the history, culture and unity of Iran and the Iranian nation. The inspiration and the revamp of this new flag idea was from the original design of the flag of the Safavid dynasty after Ismail II (1576 – 1732).

History of The Lion and Sun

The Lion and Sun motif dates back to 3,400 years ago;

The Lion and Sun motif is based mainly on astrological configurations. It refers to the ancient sign of Leo (برج اسد ), or the lion, tracing back to Babylonian astrology and Middle Eastern traditions.

The oldest evidence of representation of The Lion and  Sun dates to a cylinder of King Sausetar (1450 BC). The image was that of a sun resting on two wings, with the two lions guarding at its base.

There is also ancient historical evidence from the Hermitage Museum collection in St. Petersburg, Russia, which depicts Artaxerxes II of the Achaemenid Dynasty (404 BC – 359 BC) during the 4th Century BC, with Anahita (the protector of water) on a Lion’s back, holding a Barsam, with Mithra (the protector of truth), shining behind her. This is the earliest historical connection between the Lion and the Sun and the Iranian culture.

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