Social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, updated the Iranian flag emoticon used on its website to feature Iran’s pre-Islamic revolution lion and sun flag, early Saturday morning, as protests across the nation rage on for the 15th consecutive day.

Axar.az reports that the pre-Islamic revolution flag, which was the official flag of the nation prior to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, features horizontal stripes of green, white, and red with a depiction of a sword-wielding lion in front of a sun in the center.

The flag previously used on X was one imposed by the Iranian regime following the Islamic revolution. First flown in 1980, that flag features similar green, white, and red stripes with a red emblem of the regime in the center. Stylized text spelling out “Allahu akbar,” “God is great” in Arabic, lines the center stripe.

BREAKING:

X to replace the Iranian flag emoji, changing it from the Islamic Republic’s flag to the old monarchy flag, the Lion and Sun flag. pic.twitter.com/K1jKaW2mtY

— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) January 9, 2026