How Iran’s Flag Became a Political Symbol on Elon Musk’s X

As protests sweep across Iran, Elon Musk has inserted himself into the moment by changing the Iranian flag on X from the post-1979 Islamic Republic symbol to the pre-revolution lion and sun.

The move followed Musk’s public exchange with Iran’s Supreme Leader and was quickly celebrated by some critics of the Iranian government, especially among the diaspora.

But analysts say the symbolic shift is unlikely to alter what is happening on the ground. Iran has imposed widespread internet blackouts since the protests erupted in late December over soaring inflation, shortages, and anger toward the ruling clerical system. With connectivity cut, many protesters inside Iran cannot even see the change on X, limiting its immediate effect.

Some experts argue the move may briefly boost morale for those who do see it, comparing it to digitally replacing a flag on a captured building. However, others say Musk’s actions are less about Iranian politics and more about drawing attention and traffic to his social media platform.

While Musk’s Starlink satellite internet could, in theory, help bypass shutdowns, Iran has reportedly been jamming the signal.