Iran art students announce ‘Lion and Sun’ association, voice support for Prince Pahlavi

A group of students and graduates from Iranian art universities announced the formation of what they called the “National Lion and Sun Art Association of Iran,” expressing support for exiled prince Reza Pahlavi.

In a joint statement, the signatories said they sought a return to Iran’s pre-1979 cultural prominence through a peaceful transition and a free referendum.

The statement praised the flourishing of the arts during the Pahlavi era, citing institutions such as the Shiraz Arts Festival and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and said Iranian art had faced “silence, destruction and censorship” after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The signatories included students and alumni from art universities in Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and Shiraz, among others.