Two Men Arrested in Tehran Metro After Displaying Pre-1979 Flag
Two men were detained in the Tehran Metro after a video circulated online showing them wearing military-style uniforms and displaying a pre-1979 Iranian flag featuring the lion-and-sun emblem.
Two men were detained in the Tehran Metro on November 12, 2025, after a video circulated online showing them wearing military-style uniforms and displaying a pre-1979 Iranian flag featuring the lion-and-sun emblem. The footage, captured by commuters and shared widely on social media, showed the pair standing on a crowded platform as they unfurled the tricolour banner. The incident quickly gained attention due to both the public setting and the sensitivity of the flag inside the Islamic Republic.
Authorities announced shortly afterward that the men had been arrested for “disrupting public order” and “abusing military uniforms.” State-affiliated media reported that the detainees were not members of the armed forces and had allegedly used imitation uniforms, a violation of Iranian law which is often treated as a security-related offense. Officials did not comment directly on the political symbolism of the flag.
The lion-and-sun emblem, long associated with Iran’s national identity before the 1979 revolution, remains a historically significant symbol for many Iranians. While it is used today by some political groups abroad opposed to the Islamic Republic, it also appears in cultural, nostalgic, and non-political contexts. Its public display inside Iran, however, is uncommon and often interpreted differently depending on individual perspectives: for some, it represents cultural heritage; for others, political or oppositional meaning; and for the authorities, it is a prohibited emblem tied to the former monarchy.
In recent months, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s former monarch, has repeatedly called for public protest and for members of the armed forces to defect from the Islamic Republic. Although there is no confirmed link between those appeals and the two men detained in the Tehran Metro, the timing and the symbolic elements of the act—such as the pre-1979 flag and the use of military-style clothing—have led some observers to suggest that the individuals may have been influenced by these calls. This interpretation remains speculative, as there is no firm information about the detainees’ motivations or affiliations.
The choice of venue added to the visibility of the act. Metro stations, with dense foot traffic and limited surveillance blind spots, have become sites for spontaneous gestures that often spread widely once recorded. Even brief acts filmed by bystanders can gain national reach through social media.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of ongoing social and economic pressures in Iran. The authorities’ swift response suggests continued sensitivity toward activity that could be interpreted as challenging state-defined symbols or public order.
As of now, no details have been released about the charges the men may face or the judicial process ahead. It is also unclear whether this event will lead to further similar actions or remain an isolated case. What is clear is that the incident demonstrates how even brief symbolic gestures can become points of national discussion in today’s Iran, especially once amplified online. It also highlights the complex and contested role of national symbols within the country’s current political landscape.