souvenirs to an extent that far surpasses its display during the years of monarchy in the homeland. International recognition The Lion and Sun is an officially recognized but currently unused emblem of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Red Lion and Sun Society of Iran (جمعیت شیر و خورشید سرخ ایران) was admitted to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 1929. On September 4, 1980, the newly proclaimed Islamic Republic of Iran replaced the Red Lion and Sun with the Red Crescent, consistent with most other Muslim nations. Though the Red Lion and Sun has now fallen into disuse, Iran has in the past reserved the right to take it up again at any time; the Geneva Conventions continue to recognize it as an official emblem, and that status was confirmed by Protocol III in 2005 even as it added the Red Crystal. In literature Anton Chekhov has a short story titled "The Lion and the Sun". The story is about a mayor who had "long been desirous of receiving the Persian order of The Lion and the Sun". Gallery Iranian variations Other (non-Iranian) variants See also Emblem of Iran Flags of Iran Order of Aftab or the Order of Sun. Order of the Lion and the Sun Occurrence of the lion in historical Iran Persian Relief Committee Citations General references External links National symbols of Iran History of Iran Historical flags Iran Iranian coats of arms Iranian heraldry Lions in heraldry Lions in popular culture Mythological lions Sun in art Flags displaying animals