Shah and the Republic

A proposed flag in the context of the Iran Prosperity Project (IPP) referendum as a possible third option: “Shah and the Republic”. It represents a model in which a democratic, secular republic is established, while a separate and purely cultural title of Shah is retained and afforded to Reza Pahlavi and his descendants.

The design consists of the standard Iranian flag with the words “شاه” (shāh; ‘king’), “و” (va; ‘and’), and “جمهوری” (jomhurī; ‘republic’) written across the green, white, and red bands respectively, rendered in Nastaliq script.

Each element carries symbolic meaning: “شاه” represents monarchists, “جمهوری” represents republicans, and “و”, placed over the emblem, represents unity and a shared national identity and love for Iran.