Historically Coloured Iranian Flag

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Until recently, there was no consistent colour standard for the Iranian flag. While the Lion and Sun tricolour became established in the early 20th century, its exact shades were never strictly defined and varied across different reproductions.

Prior to 1979, Iranian flags generally tended towards darker tones. Following the Islamic regime’s takeover, in addition to removing the Iranian emblem and replacing it with Islamic symbols, the Islamic Republic also lightened the colours of the flag. These lighter shades soon made their way into Iranian Lion and Sun flags.^{[a]No documentation of this colour change can be found. However, it is supported by contemporaneous photographs of the flag. Images from the 1971 Persian Empire Celebrations show darker tones,[1]Persian Empire Anniversary CelebrationsPopper, Paul. · Getty Images · 1 October 1971 · Accessed 14 April 2026 www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/shah-of-iran-mohammad-reza-pahlavi-consort-farah-pahlavi-news-photo/1434462689 and photographs from a 1972 event show similarly darker colours.[2]A Golden Age Visit—Remembering President Nixon’s 1972 Trip to IranNixon Foundation · 31 May 2022 · Accessed 15 April 2026 blog.nixonfoundation.org/2022/05/golden-age-visit-remembering-president-nixons-1972-trip-iran/ By contrast, later flags appear noticeably brighter, using the lighter shades introduced after 1979.[3]File:Perth-iran-rally-Jan10-1.jpgOrbitalVoid49. · Wikimedia Commons · 10 January 2026 · Accessed 15 April 2026 commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perth-iran-rally-Jan10-1.jpg The reason for this shift remains unclear, and it is not limited to Wikipedia-derived designs but is also seen in current traditional renderings.}

Many Iranians today favour a return to darker shades on the flag as a way to distance themselves from the symbolism of the Islamic regime.^{[4]This Iranian Lion and Sun flag with darker colors has gone viral on Iranian social media, with people claiming it's closer to the colors of the original flag from before the revolution.throwawayiran12925. · Reddit · 5 February 2026 · Accessed 15 April 2026 redd.it/1qwrjjd} The two versions presented here are variations of the standard flag using reconstructed palettes outlined by Iran Flag Project, intended to reflect this historical variation in colour.

Historical colours

Figure 1 shows the IFP standard for the historical flag of Iran. The exact colours are based on a Pantone rounding of the flag displayed on the website of Rise Iran!, an Iran Prosperity Project–affiliated organisation.^{[5]Convention of National Cooperation to Save IranRise Iran! · Accessed 15 April 2026 iranopasmigirim.com/en/unity} This colour scheme most closely reflects that used prior to 1979.

Dark flag

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A darker variant has also gained popularity among some Iranians. The version shown here uses Pantone-rounded colours based on the variant that has gained traction in online Iranian spaces.^{[4]This Iranian Lion and Sun flag with darker colors has gone viral on Iranian social media, with people claiming it's closer to the colors of the original flag from before the revolution.throwawayiran12925. · Reddit · 5 February 2026 · Accessed 15 April 2026 redd.it/1qwrjjd}