Overview

• President Trump is expected to announce the renaming of the Persian Gulf to the 'Arabian Gulf' or 'Gulf of Arabia' during his Middle East trip next week, according to two administration officials.
• Gulf Arab states have long advocated for the term 'Arabian Gulf,' while Iran has strongly defended the use of the historic name 'Persian Gulf,' dating back to the 16th century.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the reported move as 'politically motivated' and warned it would provoke widespread anger among Iranians globally.
• The U.S. military has already used 'Arabian Gulf' in its communications for years, though international naming conventions are governed by the International Hydrographic Organization.
• The renaming follows Trump's earlier controversial decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America,' highlighting his administration's pattern of unilateral geographic rebranding.