New York Times: Persian Gulf has united Iranians more than ever

An American media outlet recently made claims about the Persian Gulf ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trip to the region. 

The Associated Press, citing two U.S. officials, claimed that Donald Trump intends to change the name of this historic body of water to fabricated titles during his visits to regional countries.

The release of this news sparked widespread reactions and condemnation in Iran, prompting various media and institutions to examine historical documents regarding the Persian Gulf.

The American newspaper New York Times addressed the issue in a report titled “Can Trump Rename the Persian Gulf?”

Last Wednesday, Trump stated in his White House office: “I have to make a decision. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I don’t know if anyone’s feelings will be hurt or not.”

The New York Times writes: This turquoise body of water has been called the Persian Gulf at least since 550 BCE, when the Persian dynasty of Cyrus ruled an empire stretching from India to the edges of Western Europe. Ancient Persia is now modern-day Iran, and its entire southern coast runs along the Persian Gulf.

The report adds: Iranian governments have staunchly defended the Persian Gulf as the only legitimate name, as have Iranians both inside and outside the country who consider this name a core part of their national and cultural identity.

The American outlet emphasized: With this proposal to rename, Trump has seemingly accomplished the impossible—uniting Iranians from all political, ideological, and religious spectrums, who have condemned Trump’s idea in statements and social media posts.

Can Trump rename the Persian Gulf?

The report continues: Trump has the authority to order changes to geographic names used in the U.S., but other countries are not obligated to respect these changes.

Trump previously issued an executive order to update the U.S. government’s geographic names information system, changing all references to the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, previously announced that her government has filed a complaint against Google for complying with Trump’s order.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names currently mandates the use of Persian Gulf for official U.S. commerce.

Globally, the International Hydrographic Organization works to standardize and delineate maritime boundaries. However, the organization told the New York Times this year that there is no official international agreement or protocol for naming maritime regions.

Iranian Reactions to Claims About the Persian Gulf

The New York Times wrote: Trump’s idea was met with condemnation from a wide spectrum of Iranians who disagree on many issues.

A historian and director of the Center for Persian Studies at the University of California, Irvine, told the American outlet: “This idea goes beyond politics; it transcends religious differences and ideologies. It’s about the nation and its history and has garnered attention. Does Trump want to negotiate with Iran or destroy its national identity?”

The New York Times emphasized: The name Persian Gulf has been used throughout history in maps, documents, and diplomacy—from the time of the ancient Persians, whose empire dominated the region, to the Greeks and the British.

The United Nations uses the term Persian Gulf; in 2006, a UN working group reached a consensus on this term based on historical documents.