Araghchi warns: 'wrath of all Iranians' if Trump renames Persian Gulf
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Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi warns of global outrage if Donald Trump pushes to rename the Persian Gulf during a visit to Saudi Arabia, calling the move hostile and historically false.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad on October 13, 2024. (Murtaja Lateef/AFP)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a sharp warning following reports that US President Donald Trump may attempt to rename the Persian Gulf during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. Speaking on X, Araghchi cautioned that such a move would provoke the "wrath of all Iranians," describing the possible rebranding as a hostile provocation.
"Let's hope that the absurd rumors about the PERSIAN Gulf that are going around are no more than a disinformation campaign by 'forever warriors' to anger Iranians all over the world and agitate them," Araghchi wrote on Wednesday.
The statement came after an Associated Press report, citing unnamed US officials, suggested Trump intends to refer to the region as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia,” breaking with internationally accepted nomenclature.
In January of this year, the Trump administration's Interior Department claimed to have "officially" changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," as well as the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley.
Araghchi: Changing the name 'hostile intent' toward Iranians
"I am confident that Donald Trump is aware that the name PERSIAN Gulf is centuries old and recognized by all cartographers and international bodies and was even used by all leaders of the region in their official communications until as recently as 1960's," Araghchi said.
The name Persian Gulf, like many geographical designations, is deeply rooted in human history. Iran has never objected to the use of names such as the Sea of Oman, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, or Red Sea. The use of these names does not imply ownership by any particular nation, but… pic.twitter.com/PQjUiph4qt
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 7, 2025
He warned that any unilateral attempt to rename the waterway would not alter its legal or geographical status but would provoke widespread outrage. “It will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the US and across the world," he said.
AP leak fuels backlash in Tehran and diaspora
Araghchi condemned the attempt as politically motivated and deeply disrespectful to Iran and its people. “In contrast, politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned. Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence.”
He underscored that the name “Persian Gulf” is not a matter of national pride alone, but a term rooted in universally recognized history and international law.
Recently, Press TV reported on April 30, Iran's marking of Persian Gulf Day, commemorating the 403-year-old victory over a foreign colonial superpower that liberated the Iranian coast after a century of occupation.
The Iranian media outlet reported that Persian Gulf Day marks Iran’s 1622 victory over Portuguese forces, ending a century of foreign control in the region. Declared a national holiday in 2005, it commemorates the liberation of Hormuz Island under Safavid ruler Abbas I and honors the Persian Gulf’s enduring name, history, and strategic value.
For over 2,500 years, Iran and the Persian Gulf have shared a deep, continuous bond, briefly disrupted by failed foreign incursions. Beneath its waters lie vast oil and gas reserves, and it remains a key artery for Iran’s international trade.
“Iran has never objected to the use of names such as the Sea of Oman, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, or Red Sea. The use of these names does not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity,” Araghchi added.
The Persian Gulf naming dispute has long been a source of regional contention, but Iran maintains that any deviation from the historically established term lacks legal standing and undermines geographical integrity.
