Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has officially replaced the emoji for Iran's national flag with the historic 'Lion and Sun' symbol, a prominent emblem from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This significant alteration was initially rolled out on the web version of the platform on January 9-10, 2026, and was widely noticed by users, including on official Iranian government accounts and state-linked media. The move comes amidst escalating anti-government protests across Iran, which have drawn international attention and concern. The 'Lion and Sun' motif, featuring a sword-wielding lion in front of a rising sun, served as Iran's state flag for centuries until it was removed following the overthrow of the Shah in 1979. The post-revolution flag, adopted by the Islamic Republic, features a red emblem and stylized Arabic inscriptions of "Allahu Akbar". In recent years, the 'Lion and Sun' symbol has been largely embraced by monarchist groups and sections of the Iranian diaspora, becoming a powerful symbol of resistance and opposition to the current clerical leadership. Its resurgence in recent protests highlights its association with a vision of a pre-revolutionary Iran. X's Head of Product, Nikita Bier, confirmed that the change was implemented after a user requested the update, indicating it was part of the platform's open-source emoji system, Twemoji. This action by X is widely interpreted as a gesture of solidarity with the Iranian people and a political statement against the current regime, marking an unprecedented move for a social media platform to alter a country's national flag emoji in such a context.