Washington – Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump He plans to announce during 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, two US officials said to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The Arab nations have pressed for a change in the geographical name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historical ties with the Gulf.
American officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive issues. The White House and the National Security Council did not immediately respond to the messages looking for comments.
The Persian Gulf has been widely known by that name since the 16th century, although the use of the “Gulf of Arabia” and the “Arabic Gulf” is dominant in many countries in the Middle East. The Government of Iran, previously Persia, threatened to sue Google in 2012 for the company’s decision not to label the water body on its maps.
In Google Maps in the United States, the body of water appears as the Persian Gulf (Arabic Gulf). Apple Maps only says the Persian Gulf.
The United States Army for years has unilaterally referred to the Persian Gulf as the Arabic Gulf in statements and images he launches.
The name of the body of water has become an emotional theme for the Iranians who adopt the long history of their country as the Persian Empire. A dispute developed in 2017 During Trump’s first mandate, when he used the name of the Arabian Gulf for the river. Iran’s president at that time, Hassan Rouhani, suggested that Trump needed “studying geography.”
“Everyone knew that Trump’s friendship was on sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is also,” wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at that time.
Trump can Change the name for official US purposes.But he can’t dictate what the rest of the world calls him.
The international hydrographic organization, of which the United States is a member, works to ensure that all seas, oceans and navigable waters of the world are surveyed and traced uniformly, and also names some of them. There are cases in which countries refer to the same body of water or a milestone by different names in their own documentation.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Trump will also visit Doha, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which are also found in the body of water. Originally planned as Trump’s first trip abroad since he assumed the position on January 20, it occurs when Trump has tried to approach Gulf countries as he Look for your financial investment in the US. and support in regional conflicts, including the resolution of the Israel-Ahamas War in Gaza and the limitation Iran’s advanced nuclear program.
The president of the United States also has important financial links with countries through their personal businesses, on which the property of the Oval office has retained.
The measure occurs several months after Trump said the United States would refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Associated Press sued the Trump administration earlier this year after the White House prohibited its journalists from covering most of the events due to the organization’s decision not to follow that of the president. Executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” within the United States.
The American district judge Trevor N. McFadden, a designated president Donald Trump, ruled last month that the first amendment protects the AP from government reprisals on his choice of words and ordered that the access of the exit be restored.
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The AP Zeke Miller writers in Washington, Jon Gumbrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
