U.S. to Use ‘Arabian Gulf’ Under Trump Plan

U.S. to Use ‘Arabian Gulf’ Under Trump Plan \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump plans to officially rename the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia. The move aligns with demands from Arab nations but has already provoked backlash due to Iran’s historic ties to the name. Legal and diplomatic challenges are expected, especially after similar past disputes.

Quick Looks

• Trump will announce name change to “Arabian Gulf” during Saudi Arabia visit.
• The Persian Gulf has been widely known by that name since the 16th century.
• Arab nations prefer “Arabian Gulf”, while Iran strongly opposes any change.
• U.S. officials leaked the news anonymously due to diplomatic sensitivity.
• Trump previously attempted to rename Gulf of Mexico as “Gulf of America”.
• The move is symbolic for U.S. government use only, not international naming.
• Google Maps displays both names; Apple Maps uses only “Persian Gulf.”
• Iran has threatened legal action over past naming disputes.
• Trump also aims to strengthen Gulf relations and secure investment, especially from Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
• Legal precedent favors press freedom, as shown by AP’s court victory over Trump’s Gulf of Mexico renaming order.

Deep Look

Former President Donald Trump’s upcoming announcement to officially rebrand the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia” for U.S. government use is poised to trigger a fresh round of diplomatic tension, particularly with Iran, and could spark renewed regional instability. The renaming, to be unveiled during Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, aligns with the preferences of key Arab allies but challenges deeply held historical and geopolitical sensitivities in the Middle East.

According to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the decision will be formally announced during Trump’s multi-country trip to the Gulf region. The move reflects not just a symbolic rebranding but a broader strategic shift — one that further aligns U.S. foreign policy under Trump with the interests of Sunni-led Arab states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, while alienating Shia-majority Iran.

The body of water, located between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, has been historically known as the Persian Gulf since at least the 16th century, rooted in Persia’s (now Iran’s) long-standing geographic and cultural claims to the region. The name is officially recognized by organizations such as the United Nations and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the international authority responsible for naming oceans, seas, and major bodies of water. While Trump can mandate a terminology change within U.S. federal agencies, international naming conventions will not be affected.

Arab nations have long resisted the use of the name “Persian Gulf,” preferring instead “Arabian Gulf,” especially in post-colonial nationalist narratives. As tensions between Iran and its Arab neighbors have escalated over decades — from territorial disputes to proxy wars and sectarian divides — the name has taken on deep political symbolism. Trump’s decision thus places the U.S. squarely on one side of a regional identity conflict.

This is not the first time Trump has intervened in geographical naming for political purposes. Earlier this year, he declared that the Gulf of Mexico should be referred to within the U.S. as the “Gulf of America.” That directive led to a legal showdown with the Associated Press, which refused to adopt the new terminology. In response, the Trump administration revoked press access to key events for AP reporters. A lawsuit followed, and U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, a Trump appointee, ultimately ruled in favor of the AP, citing First Amendment protections and ordering that the organization’s access be fully reinstated.

The Persian Gulf naming dispute has previously ignited legal threats from Iran, most notably in 2012 when the Iranian government threatened to sue Google for omitting the label from its maps. Today, the body of water appears as “Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)” on Google Maps in the U.S., while Apple Maps continues to use “Persian Gulf” exclusively. These tech platforms have become silent battlegrounds in a larger soft power struggle over cultural and national identity.

Trump’s announcement will be part of a broader diplomatic and economic agenda. His stops in Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi are aimed at strengthening alliances with Gulf states, securing regional investments, and garnering support for contentious U.S. positions, including the normalization of ties with Israel, management of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and containing Iran’s nuclear program. Trump also has private business ties in the Gulf, including real estate and licensing deals, which have continued to raise ethics concerns due to his decision not to fully divest from his business holdings during his presidency.

The renaming move may also serve a domestic political function, playing well with Trump’s base by projecting a tough, pro-America stance in foreign affairs while reviving nationalist talking points. Naming rights, though largely symbolic, have become flashpoints for ideological loyalty in the post-truth media environment — where perception often outweighs practical impact.

Still, critics argue that such decisions undermine diplomatic neutrality and reduce the United States’ ability to serve as a credible broker in Middle Eastern conflicts. Aligning with Arab states against Iran in such a visible way could inflame sectarian tensions, complicate nuclear negotiations, and damage U.S. credibility with non-aligned nations or those sympathetic to Tehran.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the anticipated announcement, but analysts predict a harsh reaction. Iran has repeatedly condemned what it views as Western attempts to erase or dilute Persian cultural and historical identity. Any American recognition of “Arabian Gulf” over “Persian Gulf” is likely to be viewed by Tehran as an act of provocation and a strategic insult.

International observers warn the change could reverberate across diplomatic channels, military cooperation zones, and international aviation and maritime documentation, all of which rely on consistent naming conventions for safety and governance.

Whether future administrations will maintain the renaming remains to be seen. It could be reversed with the stroke of a pen by a future president, or quietly ignored by federal agencies if deemed diplomatically counterproductive. However, the act itself may leave a lasting imprint on Trump’s foreign policy legacy, symbolizing his unapologetically transactional and polarizing approach to international relations.

Ultimately, this name change is not about cartography, but about power, perception, and political alignment. In a region where every symbol carries weight, Trump’s announcement will send a signal louder than the words printed on any map.

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