Flag of Iran

Iran has a special flag.

It has three colors. These are green, white, and red. The colors are very old. They show who the people are.

Long ago, people used flags too. One old flag was made of bronze. It showed a man and a woman. Many leaders used different flags. Some used a lion and a sun. This helped people know their land. Now, the flag looks different. It is still very important.

Iran has many stories about its flags.

The current flag has three stripes. They are green, white, and red. This design was made in 1980. It has a red symbol in the middle. This symbol shows a sword and four crescents. The words "Takbir" are also written 22 times on the edges.

Flags in Iran are very old.

One of the oldest is a bronze flag from the Bronze Age. It shows a man and a woman. Long ago, the Achaemenid Empire used banners too. Some had a golden eagle on a spear.

Later, the Safavid rulers used the lion and sun. This became a famous sign for Iran. Many groups still use this lion and sun design today. It is not the official flag now, but it is still very important to many people.

The national flag of Iran is a very special symbol for its people.

It is made of three equal stripes. These stripes are green, white, and red. The colors are called pan-Iranian colors. They have been part of the nation's identity for a long time. In the middle white stripe, there is a red emblem. This emblem shows four crescents and a sword. A special shape called a shaddah sits on top. This shape represents the word Allah. Along the edges of the green and red stripes, there are white words. These words are the Takbir. They are written 11 times on each side for a total of 22 times. This number is a nod to the date 22 Bahman.

Designing a flag involves many careful steps.

To make the official flag, people follow a set of rules. These rules are found in a document called ISIRI 1. This document explains how to build the flag correctly. It describes how to use a compass and a straightedge. These tools help people draw the emblem and the Takbir perfectly. The colors must be placed in the right order. The green stripe is on top, the white is in the middle, and the red is on the bottom. Following these steps ensures the flag looks the same everywhere.

Flags in Iran have a very long history.

Some of the oldest flags were found in the Bronze Age. One example is the Shahdad Standard from the Kerman province. This flag was made of bronze. It shows a man and a woman facing each other. Much later, the Achaemenid Empire used banners too. Some of these banners had a golden eagle on a long spear. Other leaders used different signs to show their power. The history of these symbols shows how the nation has changed over many centuries.

Many different groups used different flags in the past.

The Safavid Empire helped make the lion and sun a famous sign. They used it on coins and on banners. During the Afsharid era, Nader Shah used different colored stripes. He had one standard with red, blue, and white stripes. He had another with red, blue, white, and yellow stripes. Later, the Qajar era saw many more designs. In 1813, Fath-Ali Shah Qajar gave special flags to his soldiers. Some of these were red with the lion and sun. Others were deep blue for the cavalry.

Today, the flag tells a story of change.

The current flag was changed on 29 July 1980. This happened after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Before this, the first official flag was adopted on 14 August 1905. Some people still use older designs today. Many Iranian groups use the Lion and Sun flag. Others use the green, white, and red stripes without any extra symbols. These older designs are not official under the current government. However, they remain very important to many people around the world.

The national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a powerful symbol of identity.

It consists of three equal horizontal bands of green, white, and red. These are known as the pan-Iranian colors. In the center of the white band, there is a red Islamic emblem. This emblem features four crescents and a sword. A shaddah, which is a specific mark in Arabic script, sits on top. This mark represents the word Allah. Along the edges of the green and red bands, the Takbir is written in white Kufic script. The Takbir appears 11 times on each band, totaling 22 times. This number is a reference to the date 22 Bahman.

Creating the flag requires precise mathematical construction.

The physical requirements are detailed in the national Iranian standard known as ISIRI 1. This standard provides a guide for construction. It specifies how to use a compass and a straightedge to draw the emblem. It also dictates the exact way to render the Takbir script. Following these technical rules ensures that every official flag is identical. This precision helps maintain the flag's symbolic integrity across the nation.

Symbols of authority in Iran date back to the Bronze Age.

One of the earliest finds is the Shahdad Standard from the Kerman province. This bronze object dates back to approximately 2400 BC. It depicts a seated man and a kneeling woman facing a star. During the Achaemenid Empire, leaders used different types of banners called drafša. Xenophon recorded that Artaxerxes II used a golden eagle on a long spear. The "royal falcon" or varəγna represented glory. Other banners included square plaques or rectangular designs. These ancient standards showed how early Persian rulers displayed their power.

Different dynasties introduced unique heraldic designs over many centuries.

The Seljuk Empire likely used a black flag, similar to the Abbasid Caliphate. They sometimes used yellow flags to show control over specific towns. The Ghaznavid dynasty promoted Iranian culture by using motifs like the Griffin. Later, the Safavid Empire helped make the lion and sun a widely recognized emblem. They used this motif on coins, banners, and artwork. This choice may have been a response to the Ottoman Empire using the crescent moon. By using the lion and sun, the Safavids established a distinct national identity.

During the Afsharid era, Nader Shah used very large imperial standards.

These standards were made so heavy that they required 12 men to move them. He used colorful silk, such as red and yellow stripes. He also avoided the color green because of its association with the Safavids. The Zand era featured a white triangular pennant with a green border. This design included a gold lion and sun in the center. These variations show how much the visual language of leadership changed with each new ruler.

The Qajar era saw a high level of detail in military flags.

In 1813, Fath-Ali Shah Qajar personally presented standards to his infantry. These large red flags featured the lion and sun motif. They were often topped with a silver Hand of Ali. The cavalry used smaller, deep blue standards. These featured a crouching lion with a curved sword before a setting sun. These flags were often decorated with golden fringes and white streamers. Such detailed designs helped identify different military units on the battlefield.

Modern Iranian flags reflect major political shifts in the country's history.

The first official national flag was adopted on 14 August 1905. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the flag was changed on 29 July 1980. Today, the current tricolour is the only officially recognized version. However, many opposition groups use different versions. Some use the older Lion and Sun flag. Others use the green, white, and red tricolour without any central emblems. The government strictly bans the use of the Lion and Sun flag in public. These different flags continue to represent different visions for the nation's future.