Iran sends protest letter to Iraq, says Persian Gulf’s name eternal heritage of ancient times: spokesman

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says Tehran has sent a letter of protest to Iraq over re-using a fake misnomer for the Persian Gulf, stressing that the name of the strategic body of water is “a historical, permanent, documented and undeniable fact.”

Nasser Kan'ani made the remarks in a news briefing on Tuesday, in response to a question regarding the use of the distorted name for the Persian Gulf by some Iraqi institutions and officials, including Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

In a recent interview al-Sudani with Germany’s DW channel, Sudani defended his earlier use of the word “Arabian” instead of Persian in referring to the Persian Gulf.  

“The Persian Gulf has been under the same name in ancient documents, maps, travelogues and texts for thousands of years and will remain under the same name forever,” Kan’ani said.

He added that repeating the fake name does not change facts and brings no legitimacy to it.

Kan’ani said that Iran-Iraq relations surpass individuals and institutions and are rooted in the history and civilization of the two neighboring countries, and that one cannot attract the friendship of others at the cost of the asset of historical solidarity among regional countries.

He also said the Foreign Ministry had sent a letter of protest to Iraq over the issue.

Iran summons Iraqi ambassador in protest over Persian Gulf misnomer at soccer tournament

Iran’s Foreign Ministry summons Iraqi ambassador in protest over distorting the Persian Gulf name at a soccer tournament currently underway in the Aerab country’s southern port city of Basra.

Earlier, Iran summoned Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Nasir Abdul Mohsen Abdullah  to voice its strong protest over the use of the misnomer in naming a regional football competition in the Iraqi city of Basra.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the Iraqi diplomat was called in and reminded about the great sensitivity of the Iran nation to the use of the misnomer instead of the historically authentic name of the body of water lapping Iran's southern shores, despite having strategic, fraternal, and deep relations with Iraq.

The Iraqi southern city of Basra is hosting the premier regional soccer competition for the first time since 1979. Local officials have set up billboards to welcome foreign teams to the "25th Arabian Gulf Cup," using the distorted name for the Persian Gulf.

The tournament that runs until January 19 also sees the participation of teams from Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Iraqi PM underlines historic ties with Iran amid Persian Gulf misnomer row

The Iraqi PM calls for strengthening of bilateral ties with Iraq after Tehran summoned the Iraqi ambassador in protest over the Persian Gulf misnomer at a regional soccer tournament.

Several international scientific conferences have been held in recent years to discuss the historical roots of the Persian Gulf.

Researchers from the most reputable academic centers worldwide are almost unanimous in their opinions that the body of water has been referred to as the Persian Gulf throughout history.

Some regional countries and Western publications, however, continue to distort historical facts by omitting “Persian” from the full name or using a misnomer.

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