Amid ongoing nuclear discussions in Oman, the US president has reportedly refrained from renaming the Persian Gulf.
According to a CNN report on Wednesday, citing a source familiar with the situation, US President Donald Trump has reportedly decided against renaming the Persian Gulf. This decision is seen as a concession to Iran in the midst of ongoing nuclear talks between the two nations.
Earlier in the month, the Associated Press reported Trump’s intention to use the term “Arabian Gulf” for the waterway off Iran’s southern coast during his Middle East trip from May 13-16. However, Trump later told reporters he would “have to make a decision,” adding that he did not want to “hurt anybody’s feelings.”
The source indicated that the US president reversed his stance recently, as Tehran voiced strong opposition to the renaming during negotiations.
Washington and Tehran have engaged in several negotiation rounds in Oman concerning Iran’s nuclear program. While both sides have described the talks as constructive, they have been overshadowed by escalating tensions in Yemen, where the US and UK have increased strikes against Houthi militants allegedly backed by Iran. CNN sources indicated that Trump’s decision to pause bombing in early May aimed to boost momentum for the ongoing talks.
Speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, Trump expressed his desire to “make a deal” with Iran.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 UN-backed nuclear deal, accusing Iran of violating the agreement – an accusation Tehran denies. Following the 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, the Islamic Republic began reducing its commitments.
The UK Ambassador to Israel, Simon Walters, stated in February that the UK, Germany, and France have urged Iran to abandon its nuclear program in the coming months or face new sanctions.
Iran has also faced accusations of increasing its production of near-weapons-grade uranium, which it denies.
The naming of the gulf has been a long-standing point of contention between Iran and Arab states. Tehran insists on the name Persian Gulf, citing historical evidence and ancient maps linking the area to its territory. Conversely, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, and others refer to it as the Arabian Gulf or simply ‘the Gulf.’
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi described the renaming proposals as “indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people.”
Trump has a history of using symbolic renaming in foreign policy. In January, he signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”