March 17, 2023
Now the Islamic Republic is in a spat with Iraq over its use of the term “Arabian Gulf” for the Persian Gulf.
The “Arabian Gulf” moniker was first adopted by Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser more than a half century ago to rile the Shah. The Shah’s regime always objected loudly when it saw the term used and the Islamic Republic has objected just as loudly, for fear citizens would view it as less sensitive to nationalist issues than the monarchy if it did otherwise.
One problem now is that Iran is much more isolated in the world than under the Shah. As a result, the Arab term is heard much more frequently and the Persian term much less frequently.
An additional problem is that, when the Islamic Republic sees the Arab term in use, it explodes in anger and fury rather than pointing out calmly and politely that the term “Persian Gulf” has been in use for millennia, the better to impress the public with its support for nationalist issues.
The latest instance of the use of the offensive term has been especially infuriating to Iran, however, because it has been used by the Shiite prime minister of Iraq, Mohammad as-Sudani, and the clerical leader of the Shiite Sadr Movement, Muqtada as-Sadr.
The term appeared on signs and documents for an Arab soccer event being held in Basra in January. When Sudani opened the competition, he specifically referred to the “Arabian Gulf Cup.” Sadr also used the term “Arabian Gulf” in a tweet welcoming Arab guests to Basra.
The Islamic Republic immediately demanded an apology, which seems to have offended the Iraqis, who have responded by ignoring Iran and declining to apologize.
Several Majlis deputies have raised a ruckus in the chamber demanding an apology from Baghdad.
Iran’s soccer federation has said it will file a protest with FIFA, the governing body of international soccer.
Esam al-Asadi, an official of the Sadr Movement, criticized Tehran for using arrogant language with Iraq. He charged: “Iran is actually angry over Iraq’s rapprochement with its Arab neighbors and is afraid it will lead to more economic and political cooperation, costing Iran its influence in Iraq.”
That does not, however, appear to be what prompted Iran’s reaction. Iran routinely complains when the “Arabian Gulf” term is used. But this time, the Foreign Ministry did not act until after Iranian social media erupted in anger. The Foreign Ministry found itself not only complaining about the term, but also defending itself from angry Iranians.
It said it had filed a complaint privately with Iraq before the matter erupted publicly. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, “A lack of notification [to the public] does not mean a lack of action.” Much of the public, however, assumed there was a lack of action because of a reluctance to start a tiff with Baghdad.
Meanwhile, a campaign has swept through social media in Iraq promoting the term “Basra Gulf” as the alleged appropriate name for the body of water.