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Saturday, Jan 10, 2026
Outside the box.
X Platform Adopts Iran’s Historic Lion and Sun Flag Emoji Amid Ongoing Unrest
The social network’s digital representation of Iran’s flag will shift from the Islamic Republic emblem to the older Lion and Sun design in recognition of protests
The social media platform X has updated its digital flag for Iran, replacing the current emblem of the Islamic Republic with the historic Lion and Sun design that preceded the 1979 revolution.
The change is understood to reflect wider symbolic shifts occurring alongside sustained demonstrations inside Iran, where many protestors have embraced the Lion and Sun flag as an expression of national identity distinct from the government’s current insignia.
The original three-colour horizontal tricolour with the Lion and Sun at its centre was Iran’s official flag until it was relinquished following the Islamic Revolution and has since remained a potent emblem among diaspora and opposition communities.
Under the updated configuration, the Lion and Sun symbol now appears in place of the Islamic Republic’s stylised emblem in X’s emoji set when users select Iran’s flag.
This alteration has taken effect in the platform’s Twemoji library and is visible on many devices and applications.
The use of historical flags as expressive tools in digital spaces has grown more common in periods of political contention, and the adoption of the Lion and Sun design on X underscores how such symbols can carry deep resonance for populations seeking to articulate collective sentiments.
It remains uncertain whether other major technology platforms will introduce similar changes to their representations of Iran’s flag, but on X the new digital symbol is now in place as the network’s standard for Iranian identity.
The change is understood to reflect wider symbolic shifts occurring alongside sustained demonstrations inside Iran, where many protestors have embraced the Lion and Sun flag as an expression of national identity distinct from the government’s current insignia.
The original three-colour horizontal tricolour with the Lion and Sun at its centre was Iran’s official flag until it was relinquished following the Islamic Revolution and has since remained a potent emblem among diaspora and opposition communities.
Under the updated configuration, the Lion and Sun symbol now appears in place of the Islamic Republic’s stylised emblem in X’s emoji set when users select Iran’s flag.
This alteration has taken effect in the platform’s Twemoji library and is visible on many devices and applications.
The use of historical flags as expressive tools in digital spaces has grown more common in periods of political contention, and the adoption of the Lion and Sun design on X underscores how such symbols can carry deep resonance for populations seeking to articulate collective sentiments.
It remains uncertain whether other major technology platforms will introduce similar changes to their representations of Iran’s flag, but on X the new digital symbol is now in place as the network’s standard for Iranian identity.
