Iran condemns Trump's efforts to rename Persian Gulf as Arabian Gulf
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday condemned as 'politically motivated' US President Donald Trump's rumored plans to rename the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf, stating that the name does not signify ownership by Iran.
'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. Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.
The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that Trump plans to announce that Washington will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during a trip to Saudi Arabia next week, citing two anonymous US officials.
'Iran has never objected to the use of names such as the Sea of Oman, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, or Red Sea. The use of these names does not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity,' Araghchi explained.
He added that he is 'confident' that Trump knows of the Persian Gulf's history, which is 'centuries old and recognized by all cartographers and international bodies,' hoping that the rumors are merely a 'disinformation campaign' to anger Iranians.
In recent years, Arab nations have pushed to change the geographic name of the body of water off Iran's southern coast, arguing for alternate terminology as they share access to its waters.
Researchers studying the name 'Persian Gulf' have affirmed its usage dates back at least 2,500 years, with consistent recognition among Middle Eastern writers throughout history.
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