The flag of Iran is known as the Three Colour Flag,
because, you guessed it, it’s a good old-fashioned tricolour. Consisting of red, white, and green, the flag of Iran has two distinct features that were introduced after the Islamic revolution in 1980 when the Pahlavi monarchy was overthrown and an Islamic theocracy was declared.
The first is the national emblem of Iran in the centre. It looks like a collection of swords or even a stylised onion, but in fact is the name Allah written to look like a tulip to represent those who died for the revolution. It’s also written in five strokes which represents the five pillars of Islam.
The second unique feature is the two horizontal lines bordering the red and green sections of the flag. This is actually Kufic script, which is Arabic but a very particular style of Arabic writing. Written 11 times on each line is Allahu Akbar, meaning God is the Greatest.
The current flag of Iran uses essentially the same colours as the flag it replaced, but with Islamic symbolism included to represent the new Islamic Republic. The then new Iranian government believed the Lion and Sun represented the Imperial regime they had overthrown and ita western influence. This is despite the fact that the Lion and Sun were originally Islamic emblems themselves, representing Ali, the first Imam in Shite Islam.
The flag of the previous government is still used today by those who are opposed to the current Islamic government as well as those who wish to return to the Monarchy under which Iran was previously governed.
