Overview
- President Trump is considering renaming the Persian Gulf to 'Arabian Gulf' or 'Gulf of Arabia' for U.S. government usage during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
- The Persian Gulf has been historically recognized by that name since the 16th century, but Arab nations have long advocated for the alternative name to reflect their regional identity.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly condemned the potential move as politically motivated and warned it would provoke widespread anger among Iranians globally.
- The proposed renaming would only apply to U.S. federal references and not impact international naming conventions governed by the International Hydrographic Organization.
- The decision follows Trump's broader pattern of symbolic geographic renaming, including the recent rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.'