In the wake of news reported by the Associated Press regarding the alleged intention of the United States, during President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia next week, to rename the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Saudi Gulf,” immediate and firm reactions have come from Iran.
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, expressed his condemnation through a note on the social network X, defining it as a provocation that manifests “hostile intentions towards Iran and its people.”
“I hope the baseless rumors spread about the Persian Gulf are nothing more than a disinformation campaign conducted by warmongers to irritate and provoke Iranians worldwide,” Araghchi wrote, emphasizing that any “short-sighted action” in this regard would lack legal validity and geographical impact, but would solely have the effect of arousing the indignation of all Iranians, regardless of their political orientation and geographical location, both in Iran, the United States, and the rest of the world.
Moreover, on the eve of new meetings between Iranian and American diplomacy regarding the nuclear issue, the question of the name exacerbates an already complex situation, according to reports from Al-Mayadeen Network, an independent Arab news channel.
The issue of the Persian Gulf’s denomination has been a sensitive topic for some time.
Historically, it has been known as the “Persian Gulf,” but since Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq also border it, some Arab nations prefer the use of the term “Arabian Gulf,” a divergence that has been a constant source of geopolitical tension in the region since the 1960s, with the emergence of pan-Arabism and Arab nationalism.
Iranians claim a traditional use of the denomination dating back to antiquity, to the Greek geographers Strabo and Ptolemy, and to the geopolitical realities of the time, with the powerful Persian Empire encompassing the entire northern coast and a myriad of local authorities on the Arabian Peninsula coast of the Persian Gulf. It was subsequently referred to as the Persian Gulf by all Arab historians and geographers as well, including the Christian Arab writer Agapius in the 10th century. The famous cartographer Mercator in 1541 referred to it as Sinus Persicus.
Therefore, Trump’s potential decision is interpreted by many as a not-so-veiled attempt to strengthen the alignment of the United States with its Arab allies.
The Iranian reaction to the news has been vehement; Iran considers the name “Persian Gulf” a matter of profound national pride and millennia-old historical significance.
“I am certain that Donald Trump knows that the name Persian Gulf is centuries old,” Araghchi wrote on X. “The name Persian Gulf, like many geographical designations, is deeply rooted in history.”
“Iran has never opposed the use of names such as the Sea of Oman, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, or the Red Sea. The use of these names does not imply ownership by a particular nation but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity,” the Iranian Foreign Minister continued.
Prominent figures in Iranian civil society have also expressed their dissent; comments on social media are unanimous: the denomination is not to be touched.
Tomaj Salehi, a well-known protest singer and former political prisoner, certainly not aligned with the Iranian government, called the name change a “distortion of history and a denial of reality,” emphasizing the unity of the Iranian people against such an attempt.
Reactions have even come from the world of sports: the social media pages of Sepahan Club and the Iranian national football team have responded to the news by publishing historical maps attesting to the use of the denomination “Persian Gulf.”
Prince Reza Pahlavi also labeled the possible action as a “distortion of history” and an “insult to the Iranian people,” attributing responsibility for this situation to the leadership of the Islamic Republic, accused of being incapable of managing international relations.
It is interesting to note that, in the past, there has been some inconsistency in the use of terminology by US institutions, with the American military occasionally using “Arabian Gulf,” while the State Department has generally employed “Persian Gulf.”
In summary, Donald Trump’s potential stance on the denomination of the Persian Gulf highlights the complex interplay between history, politics, and deep regional rivalries, with Iran firmly opposing any attempt to alter a long and consolidated historical and cultural tradition, which represents much more than just a name.
In short, Trump’s intention is producing the unthinkable effect of temporarily uniting everyone – the government, the opposition, ordinary citizens: the name of the Gulf is not to be touched!
