Trump to decide on Persian Gulf naming during Middle East visit

President Donald Trump has said he will decide how the United States refers to the “Persian Gulf” during his upcoming visit to the Middle East, amid renewed debate over the waterway’s name, Al Jazeera reported.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump noted that his hosts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are expected to raise the issue during his May 13–16 trip.

“I’ll have to make a decision,” Trump said. “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings… I’m going to be given a briefing on that, and I’ll make a decision.”

US media outlets have reported that Trump may use the trip to announce that the US will start referring to the waterway as the “Arabian Gulf” or “Gulf of Arabia”—terms preferred by Arab countries but rejected by Iran, which insists on the historical name “Persian Gulf.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi strongly criticised the possibility of a name change, calling it “hostile intent” toward Iran. 

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he warned such a move would provoke widespread anger among Iranians and accused those promoting it of seeking to inflame regional tensions.

The dispute over the gulf’s name has long been a source of friction. Iran points to ancient maps and historical usage to support the term “Persian Gulf,” while Arab nations favour “Arabian Gulf” as a reflection of regional identity.

Trump has previously stirred controversy by renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” in early 2025. The current situation could further complicate US–Iran relations and deepen regional divides.

Trump’s final decision could carry symbolic weight, signalling either a neutral stance or a deeper alignment with key Arab allies.