**On January 10, 2026**, a dramatic scene unfolded outside the Iranian Embassy in London during large anti-regime protests.


A brave protester climbed onto the balcony of the embassy, pulled down the current flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and replaced it with the pre-1979 **Lion and Sun flag** — the historic national symbol of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This flag has become a powerful emblem of the ongoing opposition movement and calls for freedom from the current regime.


Here are some of the striking moments captured from the event:


The **Lion and Sun flag** (often featuring green, white, and red stripes with a crowned lion holding a sword in front of a rising sun) represents Iran's pre-revolutionary identity and is widely used by protesters both inside Iran and in the diaspora as a symbol of a free, democratic Iran.


For reference, this is what the classic pre-1979 Lion and Sun flag looks like:


The incident quickly went viral on social media, with many describing it as a symbolic blow to the regime amid escalating nationwide protests in Iran. Metropolitan Police reported two arrests related to the event (for aggravated trespass and related offenses), but no major disorder occurred beyond the flag replacement.


This action comes as part of a larger wave of demonstrations across Iran and in diaspora communities, where people are increasingly raising the Lion and Sun flag in defiance of the Islamic Republic. The moment has been celebrated by many as a powerful sign of growing resistance.



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