Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami: attempt to change name of Persian Gulf is a move by Arab expansionists

Arab states moves on Persian Gulf, political action: Khatami Service: Foreign Policy 1388/02/09 04-29-2009 14:25:49 News Code :8802-06224

ISNA – Tehran Service: Foreign Policy TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran’s former President Mohammad Khatami said movements of certain Arab states on Persian Gulf are political actions sponsored by expansionists.     There is no doubt that the name of the Iranian sea will be never changed since changing the historical name of a place is a political move which casts doubt on territorial integrity and identity of Iranians, Khatami told reporters after Persian Gulf meeting for arrangement of Persian Gulf encyclopedia in Tehran Wednesday. No honorable person can permit his national interests and identity be violated, he said. Iran’s presence in the issue does not mean it is seeking a share, but it defends freedom and justice, Khatami added. Also Iran’s Supreme Leader Advisor on International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati taking part at the conference said the issue of Persian Gulf is so important that Iran should keep its stance even if some Arab countries refuse to attend Islamic Solidarity Games in Iran. Saudi Arabia has recently said it will take part in the matches if Iran removes the name of Persian Gulf on medals and brochures of the competitions. The name of Arab Gulf was first used by British agents working in mandated Arab Sheikhs territories, he said adding a British political representative in Persian Gulf Roderick Oven wrote his book “Golden Bulbs at Arabic Gulf” in 1958 in which he said “I had not seen any name expect Persian Gulf in geographical books and maps before, but having lived in Persian Gulf coasts I found only Arab people live there, so it is polite to call it Arab Gulf.” Also Sir Charles Belgrio who served as British political representative in Persian Gulf for 30 years published a book and claimed Arab people prefer to name the sea Arab Gulf, he added. The former Foreign Minister continued historical documents including Arab and European books all stress that the name of the area has always been Persian Gulf. Also the former Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Akbar Neteq Nouri speaking to the reporters said Iran will not exchage the name of Persian Gulf with anything even if some countries decline to take part in sport competitions in Iran. End Item News Code: 8802-06224

Iran rejects Saudi attempt to change name of Persian Gulf to Arabian Gulf

Larijani Calls Attempts to Change Persian Gulf Name “Worthless” TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that attempts to change the name of the Persian Gulf are worthless and harmful to the region.

“The name of Persian Gulf will not change by worthless attempts, forums and debates. Countries should wisely and intelligently protect regional interests,” Larijani told reporters.

He underlined that such provocative moves will be harmful to the region, and added, “The problem of Arab countries will not be solved by such actions.”

“Arabs pose themselves to useless tests by changing the name of this large Gulf,” Larijani noted.

Saudi Arabia has announced that it would take part in the Islamic Solidarity Games, if only Iran uses the term Arabian Gulf in lieu of the original Persian Gulf.

The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event, governed by the Islamic Solidarity Games Federation (ISSF).

In a meeting held in Tehran, ISSF Secretary General Saleh Gazdar and ISSF Technical Committee Chairman Mohammad Bashir Al-Trabosli asked Iranian officials to remove the term Persian Gulf from all game medals and brochures.

The Iranian parliament speaker further highlighted Tehran’s friendly behavior towards the Arab countries, and stressed that Iran believes in its brotherly ties with the Arab world.

Larijani further called for convergence and solidarity among regional states.

Historians and ancient texts refer to the waterway as the Pars Sea and the Persian Gulf since the Achaemenid Empire was established in Iran.

Although no written document exists pertaining to the time before the Persian Empire, the oral history and culture has always referred to Iran’s southern waters as ‘Jam Sea’, ‘Iran Sea’ and ‘Pars Sea’. Jam or Jamshid has been one of most well-known and revered kings of Ancient Persia.