Trump plans to announce that the US will call the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf, officials say

President Donald Trump is expected to announce a change in the name of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf or Gulf of Arabia during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, according to two U.S. officials. The renaming has been a request from Arab nations while Iran has historical ties to the region. The U.S. military has already been using the name Arabian Gulf in its official communications for years. The naming issue has been sensitive for Iranians who value their country’s history as the Persian Empire. The names of waterways in the Middle East hold significance and altering them can be seen as a hostile act. The International Hydrographic Organization, of which the U.S. is a member, works to ensure uniform naming of seas and oceans around the world. Trump’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE is aimed at strengthening ties with Gulf countries for investment and support in regional conflicts. This move follows a previous decision by Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The naming issue has also led to legal disputes, including a lawsuit against the Trump administration by the Associated Press for restricting its coverage due to a disagreement over the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.