Flag of Iran

Quick Facts: Who was Flag of Iran?

Subject:

Flag of Iran

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The national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, featuring green, white, and red horizontal bands.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

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 Takbir written 11 times each in white Kufic script along the edges of the green and red bands. The first official flag of Iran was adopted on 14 August 1905. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian flag was changed into its current form in July 1980. Many Iranian opposition groups opposed to the Islamic government use either the Lion and Sun flag or the green-white-red tricolour without additional emblems. Neither variant is officially recognised by the government, with the Lion and Sun flag strictly banned from public use.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Islamic emblem consists of four crescents and a sword, surmounted by a shaddah, representing the Arabic word Allah (الله). The Arabic Takbir is repeated 11 times along the edges of the green and red bands respectively, for a total of 22 times, reminiscent of 22 Bahman. The flag's colours — green, white, and red — are the pan-Iranian colours, historically associated with the nation and its identity. The flags of Tajikistan, Kurdistan, and formerly Afghanistan share the same colours. Physical requirements for the Iranian flag, a simple construction sheet, and a compass-and-straightedge construction for the emblem and the Takbir are described in the national Iranian standard ISIRI 1.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The oldest flag found in Iran is the Bronze Age Shahdad Standard, found in Shahdad, Kerman province, dating back to c. 2400 BCE, made of bronze. It features a seated man and a kneeling woman facing each other, with a star in between. This iconography can be found in other Bronze Age pieces of art in the area as well. The Old Persian word for "banner, standard" was drafša- (Avestan drafša-, Middle Persian drafš, cognate with Sanskrit drapsá-). Xenophon in Cyropaedia (7.1.4) describes the standard of Artaxerxes II at Cunaxa as "a golden eagle, with outspread wings, borne aloft on a long spear-shaft", the same banner recorded to be used by Cyrus the Great.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1905: 1905 Milestone — The first official flag of Iran was adopted on 14 August 1905.
2. 1979: 1979 Milestone — Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian flag was changed into its current form in July 1980.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Flag of Iran

True or False: “The Lion and Sun motif was first used on Iranian flags during the Achaemenid Empire.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While prominent later, the Lion and Sun motif became a recognized emblem of Iran primarily during the Safavid Empire.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolph Menzel — Historical peer (Died in 1905) (1905): Pioneering German Realist master, celebrated for his detailed etchings and genre scenes.
• Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg — Historical peer (Died in 1905) (1905): Grand Duke of Luxembourg, ruling from 1890 until his death in 1905.
• A. P. Elkin — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Influential Australian anthropologist and Anglican clergyman (1891–1979)
• A. Philip Randolph — Historical peer (Died in 1979) (1979): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• Abby Wambach — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Iconic American soccer forward, celebrated for her goal-scoring prowess and longevity.
• Adande Thorne — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.

Frequently Asked Questions about Flag of Iran