Skip to content

TODAY NEWS

  • Home
  • Sample Page
  • Toggle search form

President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia.

Posted on May 8, 2025 By admin No Comments on President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia.

President Donald Trump plans to announce next week that the U.S. will refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the United States will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two U.S. officials.

Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf.

The two U.S. officials spoke with The Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The White House and National Security Council did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The Persian Gulf has been widely known by that name since the 16th century, although usage of “Gulf of Arabia” and “Arabian Gulf” is dominant in many countries in the Middle East. The government of Iran — formerly Persia — threatened to sue Google in 2012 over the company’s decision not to label the body of water at all on its maps.

On Google Maps in the U.S., the body of water appears as Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). Apple Maps only says the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. military for years has unilaterally referred to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf in statements and images it releases.

The name of the body of water has become an emotive issue for Iranians who embrace their country’s long history as the Persian Empire. A spat developed in 2017 during Trump’s first term when he used the name Arabian Gulf for the waterway. Iran’s president at the time, Hassan Rouhani, suggested Trump needed to “study geography.”

“Everyone knew Trump’s friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote online at the time.

On Wednesday, Iran’s current foreign minister also weighed in, saying that names of Mideast waterways do “not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity.”

“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,” Abbas Araghchi wrote on the social platform X.

“Any short-sighted step in this connection will have no validity or legal or geographical effect, it will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the U.S. and across the world.”

Trump can change the name for official U.S. purposes, but he can’t dictate what the rest of the world calls it.

The International Hydrographic Organization — of which the United States is a member — works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted uniformly, and also names some of them. There are instances where countries refer to the same body of water or landmark by different names in their own documentation.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Trump is also set to visit Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which also lie on the body of water. Originally planned as Trump’s first trip overseas since he took office on Jan. 20, it comes as Trump has tried to draw closer to the Gulf countries as he seeks their financial investment in the U.S. and support in regional conflicts, including resolving the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and limiting Iran’s advancing nuclear program.

The U.S. president also has significant financial ties to the countries through his personal businesses, over which he has retained ownership from the Oval Office.

The move comes several months after Trump said the U.S. would refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

The Associated Press sued the Trump administration earlier this year after the White House barred its journalists from covering most events because of the organization’s decision not to follow the president’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” within the United States.

U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, an appointee of President Donald Trump, ruled last month that the First Amendment protects the AP from government retaliation over its word choice and ordered the outlet’s access to be reinstated.

Uncategorized

Post navigation

Previous Post: Kavan Markwood, the baseball fan critically hurt in a 20-foot fall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, is slowly recovering and has taken his first steps, according to his girlfriend’s mother.
Next Post: Ohio deputy fatally struck by man whose son had been shot by police: Authorities

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025

Categories

  • Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • The women are seeking a sum of no less than $50 million in damages to all causes of action, as well as a jury trial. At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, three of the four plaintiffs were present while the fourth appeared remotely. Attorney John Harris, who is representing the women, detailed the principal causes of action against Robinson and called the singer’s alleged acts “despicable and reprehensible misconduct.” “Our four clients have a common thread. They’re Hispanic women who are employed as housekeepers by the Robinsons, earning below minimum wage,” he said. “These courageous four women have collectively decided to come forward and share their experiences of being sexually assaulted by Mr. Smokey Robinson and stand up for their rights as well as the rights of other women, particularly those that may be victimized by him in the future,” Harris added, calling the lawsuit “the first step of their journey to achieve that.” During the question-and-answer portion of the press conference, attorneys for the Jane Does said that they haven’t heard from Robinson and said that he hasn’t responded to the complaint or any of the allegations. In a statement on Wednesday, Robinson’s lawyer said, “We will have more to say in the coming days as we make our legal response, and in time Mr. Robinson will respond in his own words.”
  • Singer Smokey Robinson is being accused of sexual battery, assault and creating a hostile work environment in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by lawyers representing four of his former housekeepers.
  • Dachshund Valerie reunited with owners Georgia Gardner, Josh Fishlock after 529 days on Kangaroo Island
  • Woman dyes her Great Pyreneese dog bright red so he won’t get stolen
  • Nancy Sinatra Responds Sharply to Claim Linking Trump with Her Father, Frank Sinatra

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Copyright © 2025 TODAY NEWS.

Powered by PressBook WordPress theme