• Trump will announce U.S. refers to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during his Saudi trip.
• This name change aligns with requests from Arab nations, while Iran opposes the shift.
• The Persian Gulf has been known by that name since the 16th century, but alternative names exist in the region.
• The U.S. military has traditionally called it the Arabian Gulf in its communications.
• This move follows Trump's earlier renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

President Donald Trump plans to announce that the United States will officially refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, according to two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Arab nations have long sought a name change for this body of water off Iran's southern coast, while Iran has steadfastly defended the traditional name, which has been in use since the 16th century, according to HuffPost, India Times, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

The name "Arabian Gulf" is favored in many Middle Eastern countries, while both Google Maps and Apple Maps represent the water body differently, indicating the complexities surrounding its nomenclature. Google Maps shows it as Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf), whereas Apple Maps exclusively uses the term Persian Gulf. The push for this name change is part of a broader strategy to strengthen political relations with Gulf states, especially in light of the potential for increased financial investment and support regarding regional issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict and Iran's nuclear ambitions, according to HuffPost, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.

The decision to refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf also follows Trump's earlier controversial move to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.' The U.S. military has used the Arabian Gulf designation in its communications for years, further complicating the historical and geopolitical implications of this naming issue. Iran has condemned any attempts to change the name, asserting that it reflects a shared respect for collective heritage rather than ownership by any nation, emphasizing that politically motivated renaming efforts may provoke strong reactions from Iranians worldwide, according to HuffPost, India Times, and Los Angeles Times.