The falsification of the name of The Persian Gulf: A politicized and discredited illusion

The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing two American officials, that US President Donald Trump intends to change the name of this historical water area to fictitious titles during his visit to countries in the region.

On the one hand, this is not the first time that Trump's America has sought to change the names of geographical areas for political purposes; these political efforts have been thwarted, but an important reality is emerging in the meantime.

In a precise response to this issue, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, published an image of a map of the Persian Gulf from the US Library of Congress on the social network X, while referring to the antiquity of the name of the Persian Gulf, which has roots in human history, and emphasized: The political motives for changing the historical name of the Persian Gulf indicate hostile intentions against Iran and its people and are strongly condemned; Such biased actions are an insult to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence.

He clarified: "I hope that the ridiculous rumors about the name of the Persian Gulf are nothing more than a campaign of lies by 'always warmongering' people to anger and provoke Iranians around the world."

Stating that he is sure that the US President knows that the name of the Persian Gulf is centuries old, Araghchi wrote: "This name has been recognized by all cartographers and international institutions, and was even used by all regional leaders in their official correspondence until the late 1960s."

On the other hand, previously failed and fruitless attempts were made to falsify the name of the Persian Gulf for political purposes, but none of them could affect the fact of the historical antiquity of the Persian Gulf, because the name of this body of water has been recognized by all cartographers and international institutions.

The vastness and antiquity of the Persian Gulf, along with other outstanding features, have led various actors to venture into the adventure of gaining fame and prestige, but the result has always been the same: The Persian Gulf is an unchangeable name.

The attempt to falsify the name of the Persian Gulf is taking place in a situation where Iran has never objected to the use of names such as the Sea of Oman, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, or the Red Sea, as it believes that the use of these names does not mean the ownership of any particular nation, but rather shows a common respect for the collective heritage of humanity.

At the same time, it has become clear that the short-sighted and biased actions taken to falsify or distort the name of the Persian Gulf have no validity, legal or geographical effect, and in other words, those who make these biased claims are "taking advantage of themselves."

From ancient times to the present day, the Persian Gulf has been the name given to the body of water separating the Iranian plateau and the Arabian Peninsula in Persian, Arabic, and Latin texts, maps, documents, and treaties; all of these documents support the historical reality that shapes the identity heritage of the people of the region.

According to Ismail Baghaei, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Persian Gulf is part of the common history of the peoples of the region; he said on the National Day of the Persian Gulf that this day is an opportunity to reread the common history of the peoples of the region, reflect on the elements that make up the regional identity, and emphasize the need to further promote convergence and good neighborliness among the nations of the region to achieve endogenous security and sustainable development of all countries in West Asia.

The Persian Gulf, beyond being a strategically important region in the world and a vital hub for energy, trade, and global military power, has become a focal point of geopolitical and economic competition due to its connection to major oil-producing countries and international markets. It is also a symbol of civilizational interaction and growth, cultural exchange, and friendship between the nations of the region.

The Persian Gulf is an inseparable part of the historical memory and cultural and civilizational heritage of the Iranian nation, and no attempt to falsify or distort its name will succeed.