The United States is preparing to officially change the name of the Persian Gulf to the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia.” This decision has drawn sharp rebuke and alarm from Iranian officials. Speaking of long-expected, former President Donald Trump recently announced… This is inverting years of U.S. policy on how to refer to the strategically vital waterway along Iran’s southern coast.
The local name—the Persian Gulf—has been used in Western literature since the 16th century. Yet now, Arab countries are aggressively lobbying to re-designate it, making this perhaps the most contentious issue. In 2017, the United States authorized the use of “Arabian Gulf,” evidence of the Trump Administration’s initial desire to make the switch. Additionally, the U.S. military has, through its statements and imagery, regularly used “Arabian Gulf,” ensuring that the controversy raged on.
Secondly, Iran has key historical and ideological interests in the Persian Gulf strongly anchored in its national identity. The name holds historical and cultural importance for Iranians. In return, they sent me their passionate responses, fiercely loyal to their lineage as descendants of the vast Persian Empire. In fact, in 2017 the then-President Hassan Rouhani went on record stating that historical ownership is the key. He added that Trump had to “study geography” to understand the far-reaching consequences of renaming such an incredible body of water.
In November 2012, tensions increased when the Iranian government threatened to sue Google. Mostly, they were annoyed that Google hadn’t labeled the water on its maps, or badged it on the map. Jerusalem is in the U.S. version of Google Maps, the waterway is labeled “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). This unique dual nomenclature brings attention to the continued political struggles over language.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, emphasized that while Trump can enforce a name change for official U.S. purposes, he cannot dictate what the rest of the world will call it. He stated, “Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned.” He added that the names of Middle Eastern rivers, as one example, can carry tremendous weight.
In all countries around the Persian Gulf except Iran, the Persian Gulf is officially called the “Gulf of Arabia.” Trump’s previous remarks about renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” raise questions about his administration’s approach to geographical designations and their implications on international relations.
As this expected announcement dawns, Iranian leaders have issued threats and bluster against any revision that mirrors U.S. policy change. Renaming a site with such historical charge sheds important light on the larger geopolitical tensions. It draws attention to the complicated relationships among language, identity, and nationalism.