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yesterday

Trump Signals Decision on Persian Gulf Renaming During Middle East Trip

The U.S. president plans to address the contentious naming issue during visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, drawing sharp criticism from Iran.

A fisherman steers his boat past a flock of gulls on the Persian Gulf coast in Bushehr, Iran, January 17, 2025.
A sign showing the gulf is seen at the entrance to the office of US House Speaker Mike Johnson at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 7.
President Donald Trump speaks before Steve Witkoff is sworn as special envoy during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
President Donald Trump, from right, speaks to reporters accompanied by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Burgum's wife Kathryn Burgum, aboard Air Force One where Trump signed a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 Gulf of America Day, as he travels from West Palm Beach, Fla. to New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Overview

  • President Donald Trump has indicated he will decide whether the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during his Middle East trip next week.
  • Iran has strongly condemned the potential renaming, with its foreign minister calling it a politically motivated and hostile act toward the Iranian people.
  • The Persian Gulf has been historically recognized by its current name since the 16th century, although Arab nations and the U.S. military have used alternative names, such as 'Arabian Gulf.'
  • Trump's upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE aims to strengthen ties with Gulf nations, address regional conflicts, and secure investment in the U.S.
  • This move follows Trump's earlier executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, which has sparked domestic legal and legislative disputes.