Trump’s Push to Rename Persian Gulf as Arabian Gulf

What is the controversy all about?

US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to announce a change in how the United States refers to a geopolitically sensitive body of water — the Persian Gulf. During his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (May 13–16), Trump is expected to declare that the US will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" or the "Gulf of Arabia", a long-standing demand of Arab nations.

Two administration officials confirmed the development to the Associated Press and CNN, suggesting that the move aligns with Trump’s efforts to deepen ties with Arab nations amid ongoing Middle East diplomatic initiatives.

Why does the name matter so much?

The dispute over the waterway’s name reflects deep-rooted historical, cultural, and geopolitical tensions between Arab nations and Iran. The term “Persian Gulf” has been in use since Roman times and was widely adopted globally by the 16th century. It reflects Iran’s ancient identity as Persia, and its usage has been upheld by cartographers, international organisations, and global historical records.

On the other hand, Arab nations — especially Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq — prefer to call it the “Arabian Gulf” or simply “the Gulf”, arguing that the modern geography and demographics of the region justify the terminology.

Map of the Persian Gulf. The Gulf of Oman leads to the Arabian Sea.

What is Iran’s reaction?

Iran has vehemently opposed any attempt to rename the Persian Gulf. The Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi recently condemned the possible name change as “politically motivated” and a “hostile act” against Iran and its people.

“The name Persian Gulf is centuries old and internationally recognised… Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of background or political views,” Araghchi stated.

He warned that changing the name would trigger “the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life” and would hold no legal or geographic validity.

Iran has always considered the name a matter of national pride. Back in 2012, Iran even threatened to sue Google when the tech giant left the body of water unnamed on its map services. Similarly, in 2023, Iran summoned Iraq’s ambassador for referring to a football tournament as the “Arabian Gulf Cup”.

Is this the first time Trump has renamed a place?

No. Trump has shown a pattern of renaming geographic and institutional entities to suit political messaging:

• Earlier this year, he renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”.

• He reversed the name of Denali in Alaska back to Mount McKinley.

• Renamed Fort Liberty in North Carolina back to Fort Bragg, honoring a Confederate general.

This affinity for symbolic renaming also extends to individuals, with Trump often assigning controversial nicknames to opponents — such as:

• “Sleepy Joe” (Joe Biden)

• “Crooked Hillary” (Hillary Clinton)

• “Little Rocket Man” (Kim Jong Un)

Why might Trump be doing this now?

Trump’s proposed renaming is likely a political signal of alignment with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations. By adopting the terminology favored by these nations, Trump hopes to:

• Strengthen US-Arab relations during a time of strategic re-engagement in the region.

• Attract investments from Gulf nations into the American economy.

• Gain leverage over Iran in ongoing nuclear negotiations.

• Unify Gulf nations behind US efforts to resolve the Israel-Palestine crisis.

The timing of the move, just ahead of his Middle East visit, suggests a symbolic gesture designed to curry favor with host nations.

Can Trump actually change the name?

Technically, Trump can decide how US government agencies refer to the body of water. In fact, the US military has used "Arabian Gulf" in some of its official communications for years. Google Maps in the US labels it as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)”, while Apple Maps still uses “Persian Gulf”.

However, Trump cannot dictate how the rest of the world refers to the gulf. International bodies like the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) maintain official naming standards, and most of the global community — including cartographers and governments — continue to use “Persian Gulf”.

What are the wider implications?

Changing the name could have several ripple effects:

1. Geopolitical Fallout with Iran: The move may derail nuclear negotiations and escalate diplomatic tensions.

2. Increased Regional Polarisation: The renaming could harden divisions between Arab nations and Iran.

3. Global Map and Media Conflicts: News agencies like the Associated Press (AP) have refused to adopt the Gulf of America naming. A similar rejection of the new Gulf name seems likely.

4. Legal and Press Freedom Issues: After AP’s refusal to use "Gulf of America," the Trump administration restricted their access to official events. A federal judge later restored AP's access, ruling that the government cannot punish media outlets for their word choices.

What’s next?

President Trump has said he will decide on the name during or after his trip to the Middle East. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, stating:

“I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. I’ll be briefed and then I’ll make a decision.”

Diplomatic sources suggest last-minute efforts are underway to dissuade Trump from making the announcement, warning that it could unite all Iranians — both pro- and anti-regime — against him.

Why Does This Matter for the World and India?

• Regional tensions could escalate, especially with Iran feeling cornered.

• India, which maintains strong ties with both Iran and Gulf states, must navigate this issue diplomatically.

• Naming disputes, though symbolic, can ignite strong nationalistic sentiments and affect diplomatic negotiations, especially around sensitive issues like nuclear proliferation and Middle East peace processes.