U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia that the United States will officially begin referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia,” according to two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
The proposed renaming, which is not yet formally confirmed by the White House or National Security Council, has already drawn strong backlash from Iranian officials who view the move as a deliberate political provocation.
“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,” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion.”
Iran insists on the name “Persian Gulf,” which has been in use since at least the 16th century and reflects the country’s historical identity tied to the ancient Persian Empire. Meanwhile, many Arab states in the region, and parts of the U.S. military, have long preferred “Arabian Gulf,” viewing the name as a better reflection of contemporary regional demographics and alliances.
The dispute is far from new. In 2012, Iran threatened to sue Google after the tech giant left the name of the gulf unlabeled on its maps. Today, Google Maps lists it as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” in the U.S., while Apple Maps sticks with “Persian Gulf.”
The naming controversy erupted again in 2017 during Trump’s first term, when he referred to the waterway as the Arabian Gulf. Iran’s then-president Hassan Rouhani responded sharply, advising Trump to “study geography.”
Though Trump’s announcement would only apply to U.S. government terminology, the symbolic shift is likely to stoke further diplomatic friction at a time of strained U.S.–Iran relations. The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), a global authority on maritime naming conventions and a body in which the U.S. holds membership, continues to recognise the name “Persian Gulf” as standard.
Naming disputes over geographic landmarks are not uncommon, countries frequently use different terms domestically for shared natural features. However, in this case, the renaming is widely viewed as a political gesture meant to strengthen U.S. ties with Gulf Arab states while antagonising Tehran.
The move comes months after Trump controversially suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” a proposal widely criticised as unserious and nationalistic.
As the Trump team prepares for the announcement in Saudi Arabia, reactions from the international community, and especially from Iran, are expected to intensify.
