Iran, Iraq parliament speakers caught in intense Gulf naming dispute

Key Points:

• A toponymic dispute erupted between the Iraqi and Iranian parliamentary speakers over the naming of the body of water south of both countries, triggered by a map posted by US President Donald Trump labeling the Strait of Hormuz as “new U.S. territory.”
• Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted a photo emphasizing the term “Persian Gulf,” while Iraq’s Council of Representatives speaker Haibat al-Halbousi countered with an image labeling it the “Arabian Gulf,” highlighting longstanding regional naming tensions.
• The dispute reflects deeper political divisions, as al-Halbousi belongs to a Sunni bloc opposing Iranian-backed parties in Iraq, and both speakers recently met to discuss Iraqi oil exports affected by US-Iran conflict.
• Historically, “Persian Gulf” has been the prevalent term, but many Arab countries have preferred “Arabian Gulf” since early 20th-century Arab independence movements; Trump had considered adopting the Arab convention during a 2025 Saudi Arabia trip.
• Iran’s consulate in Najaf responded to the Iraqi speaker’s post by citing a 1936 Iraqi government geographical guide using “Persian Gulf,” while the consulate in Hyderabad mocked al-Halbousi’s position, underscoring the symbolic and political sensitivity of the naming dispute.