I’m really intrigued by this tête-à-tête over the Persian Gulf. Or rather, the Arabian Gulf, depending where you’re looking at it from. Like anything, there are (at least) two sides to this story. Iran wants it to be referred to as “The Persian Gulf”, while other Arabian countries, notably Saudi Arabia, feels it is “The Arabian Gulf”.
We’re talking about a stretch of water: an extension of the Indian Ocean that lies between Iran and seven Arab nations. Historically and most commonly referred to as the Persian Gulf, it’s called the Arabian Gulf by most Arab States. For argument’s sake, it’s also sometimes referred to as simply: The Gulf.
Fun and Games?
In January of this year, the Saudi-based Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation cancelled the Islamic Solidarity Games, due to be held in April because its Iranian host intended to use Persian Gulf on banners and medals.
In 2004, Iran banned the American National Geographic in its country for using Arabian Gulf instead of the Persian Gulf. In 2005, National Geographic did a swift u-turn and promptly revised its world atlas, to include “Persian Gulf”.
That Name Just Won’t Fly Here…
This month, the Iranian Transport Ministry announced that any airlines not referring to the waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula as the Persian Gulf will be banned from Iranian airspace. The warning was specifically aimed at the airlines of neighboring Gulf Arab countries.
An article in the Business Insider reveals that Hamid Behbahani, Iran’s Transport Minster told local media: “The airlines of the southern Persian gulf countries flying to Iran must use ‘Persian Gulf’ on their flight monitors.”
Airlines ignoring the warning are to be banned Iranian airspace, while repeat offenders would have their planes grounded in Iran and “the companies’ flight permits to Iran canceled.”
Apparently. Iran also just fired a Greek flight attendant from private Iranian airline, Kish Air, for daring to utter “Arabian Gulf” on a monitor.
The debate continues…
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Infact it is the Iranian (Persian) rights. Because in wikipedia.org :
The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.[1] Historically and commonly known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes controversially referred to as the Arabian Gulf or simply The Gulf by most Arab states[2], although neither of the latter two terms is recognized internationally. The name Persian Gulf (Gulf of Iran) is used by the International Hydrographic Organization[3].
and :
In the fifth century B.C., Darius the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty called the Persian Gulf “Draya; tya; haca; parsa: Aitiy”, meaning, “The sea which goes from Persian”[5]. In this era, some of the Greek writers also called it “Persikonkaitas”, meaning the Persian Gulf.
Since several thousand years tell us Persian Gulf.
In fact, it is up to the countries to call it as what they need. For example, Iran can use the name that works for them, however, nobody can fource Arabic countries to use the name that does not work with them. Therefore, different parts of the Gulf can have different name, in order to resolve this stuped discussion.
Joul Wern wrote in his books, PERSIAN GULF. But this is not important, arabiaan and persian living together from 3000 years ago. this is important(BROTHER).
I agree with Salem Al Matar
we can’t call places whatever we want, if history says persian gulf, then “persian Gulf”
why the need of so much struggle, iranians and arabs must be friends cause they have almost the same religion which says they are brothers
Why Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf, Why not The Islamic Gulf?
Countries with a coastline on the Gulf are (clockwise, from the north): Iran, Oman , United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia , Qatar , Bahrain , Kuwait and Iraq, and all are Muslims Countries
don’t forget one thing! it’s PERSIAN GOLF only & only PERSIAN GOLF each times… since when it was,to when it will be…
all of us have to say and call persian gulf , az we read in hystorical books and idies
all arabian have to know , persian gulf will flood them !
only persian gulf
only persian gulf & only persian gulf
Thats a thiny foolish problem that caused by England and it’s friends. They don’t at all want any stable peace in this rich region that may be born an islamic super power that can be dangerous for them. We live together for thousand years and must be used for far future.
I suppose we call it persian gulf not for any racial reason but historical one. we must be unite, because we are brothers. For all us the important issue is development that can cause us independent from anyone without us.
Be success Arab and Iranian brothers.
only PERSIAN gulf
His name is PERSIAN GULF because it is a name for this golf from ancient.
if you are in doubt, you can see ancient maps.
Thanks lot.
PERSIAN GULF forever
When we visit this “Gulf”, we will say His Name Is Arabian Gulf. Because 100% from his population are Arab.
If you go back in time(about 2000-2500 years ago), you will see the power of the Persian empire, that rules the world some time, because of that great power this land of Persia could have had any thing he wants as we can see in the ancient maps the Persian Empire was from the Indus river and India in east to the Egypt, Libya, Byzantium and over the black sea to Olbia and Shkodra in west. So everybody must accept this fact that the ancient and present name of this gulf is Persian Gulf -not any other terms- and respect this..
hello
His name is PERSIAN GULF only
Hi,
According on hundreds original documents the persian gulf is true word from anciant times to today and nobody cann,t changes the historical and geographical names on the maps.therefore the persian gulf is true only.
persian persian
persian golf only always always always
don’t forget one thing! it’s PERSIAN GOLF only & only PERSIAN GOLF each times… since when it was,to when it will be…
salam PERSION GOLF only
only persion golf
only PERSION gulf
caspian sea and persiangulf and oman sea and atlantice ocean and …. we cant change names.
persian gulf
only……only
vatan yani khalij ta abad fars…..
خودتونو الکی خسته نکنید…..
اینجا همیشه خلیج فارس بوده و خواهد ماند…
persian gulf for always
persian gulf is historical name and imortal name for gulf . not any name only persian . arabs is theaf and striker to another culture. if they are true why arba sea . india sea