INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Persian Gulf, for example, is a vital waterway for global oil transport, an exotic destination for tourists, and a geostrategic location
But for those who have thrived along its shores for thousands of years, it's a heritage, heritage so deeply ingrained, so fiercely its own,
that no flood of propaganda or political maneuvering can ever truly wash it away.A recent report claiming that U.S
President Donald Trump intends to announce Washington's recognition of the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" has sparked strong reactions
in Iran, ranging from anger and disbelief to outright ridicule
Apple to adopt the new name, and, according to some accounts, even banned a reporter who used the original name from attending White House
The United Nations, geographical societies, and countries around the world still refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico
The potential move to rename the Persian Gulf faces even greater challenges, as the latter has been referred to as such for at least 2500
the primitive form of the Persian Gulf was formed along southern Iran by the tectonic interplay of the African and Eurasian plates about
500,000 years ago.The earliest documented name for the inlet was "Nar Marratu" (Bitter River) in ancient Elamite-Assyrian texts
By the 6th century BCE, the terms "Persian Gulf" or "Persian Sea" were in common usage.An inscription by Darius the Great, found near the
ordered the Suez Canal to be reopened and established Persia's first naval fleet, which sailed from the Red Sea to a naval hub at modern-day
Bushehr, further cementing the connection between Persia and the waterway
Inscriptions commissioned by Darius declared, "Our ships sailed to the sea that comes from Persia."Alexander the Great's admiral, Nearchus,
explored the southern seas in 326-325 BCE, documenting his journey from the Indus River to the Persian Gulf
The Greek historian Flavius Arrianus preserved a summary of this account, referring to the body of water as "Persikon Kaitas" (Gulf of
Later Greek geographers like Strabo (1st century BCE-1st century CE) consistently used the name "Persian Gulf."Roman historians and
geographers, including Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century CE) and Quintus Curtius Rufus (1st century CE), also employed terms like "Persicus
Sinus" (Persian Gulf) and "Aquarum Persico" (Persian Waters).Post-Islamic sources are replete with references to "Bahr al-Fars" (Persian
Sea) and "Khalij al-Farsi" (Persian Gulf), appearing in the works of Ibn Faqih (9th century), Ahmad ibn Rustah (9th century), Al-Biruni
(11th century), Yaqut al-Hamawi (13th century), and Ibn Battuta (14th century).Even European colonial powers, including the British Royal
Navy, used "Persian Gulf" in their official maps and guides from 1868 onward.The "Arabian Gulf" misnomerHistorically, the term "Arabian
Gulf" referred to the Red Sea, as evidenced by the writings of Hecataeus of Miletus, Herodotus, Strabo, and Ptolemy
leadership, began promoting the term for political gain
to manipulate history would ultimately change the name of the Persian Gulf, such moves could still impact regional ties and diplomatic
Minister and current head of the Iranology Foundation on X
renewed push by some Arab states to promote an alternative name for the Persian Gulf may signal a more significant underlying strategy
He suggests it could embolden countries like the UAE, which lays claim to the Iranian islands of Bu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser
strategy, which could also lead to dangerous moves regarding the three islands," Najafi said
He added, "If this occurs, it would suggest that the Arab states surrounding the Persian Gulf, particularly the UAE, are making concessions
to gain certain advantages
Arabs have learned from their previous hardline approach of containing and confronting Tehran
Now, under the pretense of reducing tensions, they could be pursuing anti-Iranian policies in a different way."
This article first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times
