The lion and sun symbols seen in Iran’s flag stems from ancient Iran, seen in historical records from more than 2,500 years ago. They are a reminder of Iran’s history and origin. The sun was associated with Mithraism, and represents, amongst other things: warmth, friendship, justice and truth. The lion is a symbol of bravery and guardianship.
As the symbols stem from ancient Iran and are simply authentic national and cultural symbols of Iran, they are not affiliated with any particular political group or leaning. It has been a national symbol and the official flag of Iran for centuries. The monarchist version of the flag has a crown at the top.
One credible and non-partisan source for this information on the background of Iran’s flag is Dr. Nasser Engheta (https://youtu.be/el8PXSS05CQ). Another credible source about the history of the Lion and Sun Symbol is Kaveh Farrokh (https://www.kavehfarrokh.com/news/the-lion-and-sun-motif-of-iran-a-brief-analysis/).
A similar flag is the flag of Mexico. The symbols in the Mexican flag are Aztec, relating to the civilisation prior to Spanish colonialism. The symbols in the Iranian flag are also ancient, stemming from pre-Islamic Iran. Each are a reminder of their country’s origins and rich histories.
