Flag of Iran: meaning, history, curiosities

A flag of Will It is one of the symbols that represent the country. Officially established in 1980, it represents the transformations that occurred in Iran after the Islamic Revolution, which took place in the late 1970s. The flag features the colors green, white and red, and brings with it elements that symbolize the Islamic faith: the inscription “Allah is Great”, repeated 11 times in the upper and lower portion between the colored bands and the white band, and a central emblem, designed to represent Allah.

Read too: Flag of Saudi Arabia — another flag whose elements symbolize the Islamic faith

Topics of this article

  • 1 - Summary about the flag of Iran
  • 2 - Meaning of the flag of Iran
    • → Meaning of the colors of the flag of Iran
    • → Meaning of the symbols on the flag of Iran
  • 3 - History of the flag of Iran
  • 4 - Main characteristics of Iran
  • 5 - Curiosities about the flag of Iran

Abstract about the flag of Iran

  • The flag of Iran is a symbol of the transformations resulting from the Islamic Revolution, representing Islam and the country as a whole.

  • It was officially adopted on July 29, 1980, replacing the former monarchy flag.

  • It is composed of the colors green, white and red. Green represents the Islamic religion and prosperity, while white represents peace. Red symbolizes those who gave their lives fighting for their country.

  • Between the colored bands and the central white band, there is an inscription in white, written in the Kufic alphabet, which means “Allah is Great”. It is repeated 11 times at the top and bottom of the flag.

  • In the center is the emblem of Iran, a symbol that resembles a tulip and represents Allah.

Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)

Iran flag meaning

The flag of Iran is aimportant symbol dthe country. It has a rectangular shape and consists of three horizontal bands arranged from top to bottom, in the respective colors: green, white and red.

In white, in the transition between the strips, the inscription reads Allah Akbar, repeated 22 times across the flag. In the center of the white band, engraved in red, is an emblem inspired by symbols of ancient Persia and which makes reference to Allah.

The current flag is a symbol of the revolution that happened in Iran at the end of the 1970s, marking the transition from a monarchical to a theocratic regime of power. It also represents the Islam, the official religion of the country.

Flag of Iran.
The colors green, white and red form the Iranian flag, which also features elements that represent Islam.

Iran flag colors meaning

Green, white and red are the three colors that make up the flag of Iran. Gifts in other flags of the Middle East and Muslim countries in general, these colors are directly associated with the Islamic faith, mainly the color green. See, below, what each of them represents on the Iranian flag.

  • Green: It is the main color associated with Islam, and is also referred to as the color of the prophet. Mohammed. In the flag of Iran, in addition to this meaning, green is a symbol of prosperity and growth.

  • White: symbolizes peace, freedom and honesty.

  • Red: blood color, symbolizes the martyrdom of all those who gave their lives in defense of Iran.

Meaning of the symbols on the flag of Iran

The symbols present on the flag of Iran are an inscription in the Kufic alphabet and an emblem in the center, both referring to the Islamic religion.

  • Enrollment: the inscription in Kufic appears in white in the transition between the colored bands and the central band, also in white. It is repeated 11 times in the upper portion and 11 times in the lower portion, for a total of 22 times across the entire flag. The following words read on the inscription: Allahu Akbar, “Allah is Great”.

  • Emblem: the emblem depicted in red at the center of the flag of Iran is a stylized inscription representing Allah. It was designed based on the three pillars of Islamic government adopted in Iran (scripture, justice and iron/strength) and resembles both a tulip and a lotus flower, symbols of ancient Persia.

Iran flag emblem.
Iran flag emblem.

Iran flag history

The current flag of Iran was adopted in the year 1980, one year after the end of the Islamic Revolution, which transformed the political and social structure of the country. A theocratic government regime was instituted, guided by the laws of the Islamic religion.

With that, the symbols that represented the previous monarchy were replaced under the command of the then Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The change began in 1979, with the idea of maintenance only of the colors green, white and red, which formed the flag of the monarchy.

First flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, dated 1979.
First flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, dated 1979.

After a public call for its design, O first emblem chosen to be placed on the flag was formed by a sphere, from which spears came out with other spheres at their ends, inside which closed fists and stars were represented. This symbol was also added to the country's official currency, but was soon replaced.

The current Iranian flag emblem was approved on June 9, 1980, and just over a month later, more precisely on July 29, the new flag came into force.

See too: Flag of Portugal — another flag adopted after the end of a monarchy

Main characteristics of Iran

Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a middle east country located between the Caspian Sea to the north and the Persian Gulf to the south. To the east and west, Iranian territory borders seven other Asian countries.

Of varied relief, consisting of plateaus, plains and mountain ranges concentrated in the border regions, Iran also has distinct climatic occurrences that vary from climate subtropical to the climate semiarid, in addition to the cold mountain climate in higher altitude terrains. Its vegetation cover is composed offorests, steppes It is deserts.

More than 85 million people live in Iran today, making it the most populous country in the middle east. Of this total, approximately 77% live in the urban area of ​​the country, with emphasis on its capital, the city of Tehran, which concentrates 9.4 million people.

Landscape in Tehran, capital of Iran, where many of the country's flags are hoisted.
Landscape in Tehran, capital of Iran.

The Iranian economy is also the largest economy in the middle east. Its flagship are the fossil fuels, that is, the Petroleum and the natural gas, accounting for 3.5% of world production of these resources. Iran is also one of the founding members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), standing out as a major oil exporter.

Facts about the flag of Iran

  • The number of times the inscription “Allah is Great” appears on the flag of Iran is not random. The Iranian Revolution was declared victorious on the 22nd day of the 11th month of the Iranian calendar.

  • The symbols present on the flag of Iran were designed by architect Hamid Nadimi.

  • The first Iranian flag was adopted in the 3rd century BC. C., when the country corresponded to the territory of Persia.

  • National Flag Day is celebrated on April 1, the same day the Islamic Republic of Iran was officially established in 1979.

By Paloma Guitarrara
Geography Teacher

Click and learn more about Islam, the second largest religion on the planet. Understand the origins of this religion and learn about its principles and five pillars.

The Middle East is one of the most important areas in the world in historical and geopolitical terms. Click to read our text and learn more about this region.

Understand the Shiite revolution in Iran, a revolutionary process that established the hegemony of the ayatollahs in the country.

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