Fake names can’t ...
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Iran must respond firmly and appropriately to such provocations, which strike at the very heart of the nation’s dignity, history, credibility, and culture. However, under current circumstances, the scope for active countermeasures is somewhat limited. Still, Iran should lodge a formal protest and follow up on the matter through diplomatic channels.
The country ought to release historical documents substantiating the name Persian Gulf, and hold academic and historical seminars to expose how these name-change efforts are intended to cover up an undeniable historical reality. It falls to Iran to win over public opinion globally and to shine a light on the facts through media outreach.
Iran must in no way sit idly by in the face of such statements and events. Instead, it should mount a media campaign vigorous enough to ensure that Trump comes away with nothing on this front politically.
Trump’s move is apparently aimed at drawing attention from Arab audiences in the region, by seizing on an issue he believes will strike a chord with his hosts to cozy up to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Naturally, members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and other Arab countries are likely to welcome Trump’s adoption of the false term “Arabian Gulf.”
Yet from a strategic standpoint, this maneuver brings Washington little to no tangible gain. Nor does it do anything to chip away at the Persian Gulf’s internationally recognized historical name.
What is needed is a long-term, consistent campaign to remind international bodies of the historical truth and to formally assert the rightful name of the Persian Gulf. This will be no quick fix; it demands patience and persistence.
At the end of the day, Washington’s use of the false name “Arabian Gulf” serves them solely as a media ploy; it won’t translate into any meaningful strategic leverage. Frankly, this is not a matter Iran ought to blow out of proportion.
There is an old saying: “Falsehood perishes when ignored.” Giving undue attention to such empty gestures only risk amplifying them, which is precisely what the other side is aiming for.
Therefore, while Iran must avoid turning a blind eye to such provocations, it must also avoid letting this issue hijack its diplomatic agenda. This naming controversy is clearly meant to curry favor with Persian Gulf Arab states, but in the broader context of ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington, it sends a misguided and harmful signal.
Like the sanctions the US continues to pile on Iran even as talks progress, this latest move reflects yet another instance of the recklessness and poor judgment plaguing the current White House leadership.