Persians in LA Celebrate Fall of Islamic Republic

Diaspora waves ancestral flag, confronts 'Hands Off Iran' protesters waving regime's banner

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In an Instagram video, a Persian protester in Los Angeles confronts 'Hands Off Iran' demonstrators, furious that they are waving the flag of the Islamic Republic rather than the traditional Persian Lion and Sun flag. The protester explains the flag's history and how it was changed after the 1979 revolution to remove Persian symbols and replace them with Arabic script, marginalizing Iran's pre-Islamic heritage.

Why it matters

The scene captures a divide in the Western response to the fall of the Islamic Republic, with Persians who lived under the regime celebrating its demise, while some Western activists demand it be left in peace. For the Iranian diaspora, reclaiming the Persian flag is about distancing themselves from the repressive regime they fled.

The details

Following U.S.-Israel strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei, Iranian protesters have been replacing the Islamic Republic's flag with the traditional Persian Lion and Sun flag at embassies around the world. A 2022 survey found 46% of Iranians inside the country prefer the Lion and Sun flag over the current one. Critics argue the post-revolutionary flag deliberately marginalizes Iran's pre-Islamic heritage and raises questions about inclusivity for non-Muslim minorities.

  • The Islamic Republic's flag was changed on July 29, 1980.
  • The U.S.-Israel strikes that killed Ayatollah Khamenei occurred recently.

The players

Persian protester

An Iranian diaspora member in Los Angeles who confronted 'Hands Off Iran' demonstrators and explained the significance of the Persian flag.

Ayatollah Khamenei

The Supreme Leader of Iran who was killed in the recent U.S.-Israel strikes.

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What they’re saying

“We're seeing them supporting the United States and Israel. At Israeli embassies around the world, Iranians and Persians are gathering to lay flowers, sing songs, and express support for Israel for helping and rescuing them.”

— Yudval David, Fox News commentator and member of the Middle East Forum (The Gateway Pundit)

What’s next

London's Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on both the Iranian diaspora rallies and the 'Hands Off Iran' protests to prevent clashes between the two groups.

The takeaway

The Iranian diaspora's embrace of the Persian flag over the Islamic Republic's flag highlights the deep divide between those who suffered under the regime and some Western activists who demand it be left in peace, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the aftermath of the regime's fall.