ALBAWABA – Google, the American multinational technology company, reportedly referred to the Persian Gulf as the 'Arabian Gulf' in its latest update, according to media reports.
Google renames Persian Gulf
Multiple Google users in the Middle East have reported that the updated Google app now displays the name 'Arabian Gulf' when searching for 'Persian Gulf.' Google has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Notably, the US president Donald Trump reportedly proposed changing the name of the Persian Gulf to the 'Arabian Gulf,' according to the Associated Press. This suggestion came amid ongoing communications between Washington and Tehran concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
For users in the United States, the area has sometimes appeared as 'Gulf (Arabian Gulf),' while Apple Maps continues to label it as the 'Persian Gulf. (Shutterstock)
For his part, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that Trump's proposal would raise political and geographical concerns, as it would likely be strongly opposed by Iranians.
It is worth mentioning that the body of water off the southern coast of Iran has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' since at least the 16th century, although the term 'Arabian Gulf' is commonly used in some Arab countries in the Middle East.
In 2012, the Iranian government threatened to sue Google over its decision not to label the body of water as the 'Persian Gulf' on its maps. For users in the United States, the area has sometimes appeared as 'Gulf (Arabian Gulf),' while Apple Maps continues to label it as the 'Persian Gulf.
