Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, expressed his rejection and condemnation of the possibility of changing the name of the Persian Gulf to Arabian Gulf, considering this action hostile and an affront to the Iranian people, according to US media reports. Araqchi pointed out that any political attempt to modify the historically established name of the Persian Gulf reflects hostile intentions toward Iran and its people.
In his statements, the head of Iranian diplomacy emphasized that this action is perceived as an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their origin or place of residence. To support his position, Araqchi presented an ancient map from the Library of Congress of the United States that names the Persian Gulf. He also expressed hope that the rumors about the name change are simply a misinformation campaign to incite anger in the Iranian population worldwide.
On the other hand, he mentioned that the name Persian Gulf has centuries of history and has been internationally recognized by cartographers and international organizations, as well as being used in official communications by regional leaders up until the 1960s. Meanwhile, the AP news agency revealed, citing anonymous sources, President Donald Trump's plans to announce the name change during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Persian Gulf has been referred to in this way internationally since at least the 16th century and is officially recognized by entities such as the United Nations and the International Hydrographic Organization. However, some countries in the Middle East refer to it as the Arabian Gulf, which has generated tensions. This controversy is not new, as Iran threatened to take action against Google in 2012 for showing the Arabian Gulf on some of its maps.
These discussions about the name change arise amid nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, which began in April and have gone through three rounds. Although a fourth round was scheduled in Rome, Washington decided not to participate, postponing talks for next weekend. It is worth noting that Trump previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to 'American Gulf,' an action that generated criticism.
