Say "Persian Gulf" or Don't Fly Over Iran

Airlines not referring to the waterway between Iran and the Arabian peninsula as the Persian Gulf will be banned from Iranian airspace, the transport minister told local media Monday.

The warning was directed specifically toward the airlines of neighboring Gulf Arab countries who have a history of referring to the body of water as the "Arabian Gulf."

"The airlines of the southern Persian gulf countries flying to Iran must use 'Persian Gulf' on their flight monitors," Hamid Behbahani told the IRAN daily.

Airlines ignoring the warning would be banned from Iranian airspace, while repeat offenders would have their planes grounded in Iran and "the companies' flight permits to Iran canceled."

The report said Iran expelled a Greek flight attendant from the private Iranian airline, Kish Air, for using "Arabian Gulf" on a monitor over the weekend.

Iranians are traditionally sensitive over the historic name of the waterway between Iran and seven Arab nations.

Last month the Saudi-based Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation said it canceled the Islamic Solidarity Games in April because its Iranian host planned to use Persian Gulf on banners and medals.

In 2004, Iran banned American National Geographic for using Arabian Gulf instead of the Persian Gulf. In 2005, National Geographic revised its world atlas to use Persian.

[AOCGUY]

This is an amzingly stupid controversy on both sides. Reality is that since the days of ptolomy, this body of water has been named the Persian Gulf. Arab states, wanting to emphasize their role in regional politics began using the term Arabian Gulf in the 60's. Ironicaly, Arabian Gulf also has been used as arefernce tothe Red Sea. On the Iranian side, insisting that airlines only use the term Perian Gulf when they know full well what is meant by Arabian Gulf is just infantile.

[PersianGulfForever]

You are an idiot, I made an account just to reply to your idiotic comment. How is trying to defend one's heritage "infantile"? Why are the Iranians infantile and not the Arabs? You are taking away 2500 years of their heritage and you expect them to just sit aside and let it happen?

[billpl-2009]

sorta like if we tried to change

the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of Amercia

[SusanStoHelit]

Persian Gulf IS the standard name.

The people who are trying to change the name are the Arabian Gulf people.

An extreme reaction - but they aren't trying to change the name, nor challenge a disputed name - Persian Gulf is the internationally recognized standard name.

[Kiumars2]

I think Iran should apply the same rules to the ships that pass thru its territorial waters. Any ship carrying cargo that is destined to any other destination other than the Persian Gulf should not be allowed to pass thru because they are in the wrong place!

[i_mean_u]

some gospel believers might want to call it a "great gulf fixed" and leave it at that...

[lilbear925]

Well, this just shows the world how radical these idiots are. I think any airline not wishing to say "persian gulf" should immediately pull all their flights from Iran. I also believe that all flights initiating in Iran should be banned from flying over or landing in any non-muslim country.

[vietnamwar]

"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
THERE

[Kiumars2]

@vietnamwar;
Interestingly enough the British called it the British Gulf back in the 18th century during the pick of the British Empire but nobody fall for it and they called it Persian Gulf again!

All the incoming shipping traffic of the Persian Gulf passes thru the territorial waters of Iran, I think Iran should block any ship that enters the Persian Gulf but is destined for other unknown places like ?The Gulf? or even ?The Arabian Gulf? because these ships are in the wrong place!

Close the waterway for a week and everybody will call it by its real name! I.e. The Persian Gulf!

[vietnamwar]

"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
"Arabian Gulf."
THERE