Trump may rename Persian Gulf during Middle East visit

Thursday 08 May 2025 - 08:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump may rename Persian Gulf during Middle East visit

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will decide on the name the United States uses to refer to the “Persian Gulf” during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking from the White House, Trump stated that he expects discussions about the terminology while in the region and will receive a detailed briefing before making his decision.

“I’ll have to make a decision,” Trump said when asked if he would officially address the naming of the strategic waterway. “I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings,” he added, noting the sensitivity surrounding the issue.

Reports in U.S. media suggest Trump may use his May 13–16 visit to announce a shift in terminology, possibly opting for “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia.” The naming of this body of water has long been a contentious issue between Arab nations and Iran.

Iran maintains that “Persian Gulf” is the historically and internationally recognized name, supported by ancient maps and records. Meanwhile, countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq prefer alternatives such as “Arabian Gulf” or simply “the Gulf.”

Tensions flared in 2023 when Iran summoned Iraq’s ambassador over the use of “Arabian Gulf Cup” to name a regional football tournament. A decade earlier, in 2012, Iran criticized Google for omitting the waterway’s name entirely from its maps.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, condemned any potential name change as a sign of hostility towards Iran and its citizens, warning that it would provoke strong public backlash. He described such actions as deeply offensive and called them part of a broader misinformation effort.

This issue gains further attention as Trump has previously shown a willingness to rename geographical features, notably signing an executive order in January to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”