X Switches Iran Flag Emoji Amid Unrest

The US-based social media platform X (formerly Twitter), owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has replaced the emoji of Iran’s current national flag with the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun symbol, drawing widespread attention amid Iran’s ongoing violent protests.

As a result of the change, Iranian officials’ and state-run media accounts on X are now also displaying the pre-1979 emblem instead of the Islamic Republic’s official flag.

Users first noticed the change on Friday, January 9. A day earlier, on January 8 (Thursday), X’s Head of Product Nikita Bier said the platform was working on the modification following a user request. By Friday evening, the new emoji had gone live.

The Lion and Sun symbol is closely associated with Iran’s monarchy and was officially used until the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After the fall of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the symbol was abolished and replaced with the current emblem of the Islamic Republic, which includes the phrase “Allahu Akbar” written in Kufic script along the flag’s borders.

Since then, the Lion and Sun emblem has been adopted mainly by monarchist groups and opponents of the current Iranian government. In recent protests, many demonstrators have been seen carrying flags bearing the symbol, chanting slogans demanding the restoration of the monarchy.

Meanwhile, in a televised address, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that he would not back down, accusing protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers.

What began as demonstrations over economic hardship, soaring inflation, and the devaluation of the rial has now evolved into a broader anti-government movement. The situation has been further inflamed by Iran’s long-time adversaries, the United States and Israel. US President Donald Trump has already issued multiple threats of military action against Iran.

DBTech/CNN/MUM/OR