The naval and military flags of imperial Iran went through a number of changes during the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-79), the final set being introduced in the early 1960s. The national flag, a horizontal tricolor striped green, white and red with the gold lion and sun symbol on the white stripe, was modified by the addition of a wreath of laurel and oak leaves and an imperial crown to serve as the naval ensign and war flag. The naval jack was square and displayed this same badge. Up to 1974 its field was green; thereafter it was white. The commissioning pennant was based on the ensign and was made in a variety of sizes. The version shown above was worn by large warships. Appointment and rank flags were square and except for that of the Minister of War and Marine they were white with a canton of the national colors and various insignia to indicate appointment or rank.

For some time after the 1979 revolution all these flags remained in use, albeit with the imperial crown removed where it appeared. Only in 1992 was the design of the current flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran finalized.