DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The Trump administration is preparing to officially designate the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia, a decision that is likely to be favored by leaders from Arab nations while simultaneously provoking ire from Iran.
This information was reported by The Associated Press, which referenced two anonymous U.S. officials. The announcement is anticipated to coincide with President Trump’s upcoming trip to the Middle East from May 13 to 16, during which he will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The naming of this significant waterway, a vital shipping route situated between Iran’s southern coast and the coasts of Arab countries including Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar, has been contentious for decades. Various Arab countries have advocated for shifting the name from Persian to Arabian Gulf. Although the term “Persian Gulf” has been predominant since around the 1700s, many Arab nations refer to it as the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Arabia.
In its communications, U.S. Central Command has adopted the name Gulf of Arabia, while the State Department and CIA have continued to use Persian Gulf.
Mapping services present varied nomenclature; Google Maps labels the stretch as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf),” while Apple Maps and prominent U.S. media outlets such as NBC News and The Associated Press refer to it simply as the Persian Gulf.
In 2012, Iran, the birthplace of the ancient Persian Empire, threatened legal action against Google for omitting the name of the body of water in its maps altogether.
The White House has not yet provided a comment regarding this matter following a request from Finance Newso. The Trump administration is currently engaged in indirect negotiations with Iranian officials concerning the nation’s nuclear program.
