Beneath the Forged Names for Persian Gulf
What has led to use of forged names for Persian Gulf
By Elahe Koulayi
As one the most strategic regions of the world, the body of water that is located on Iran's southern border has always been called the Persian Gulf. Historical Pre-Islamic and Islamic documents have also used Bahr-e-Fars or Darya-e-Pars (the Persian Sea) for this beautiful gulf.
Throughout all these centuries, Khalij-e-Fars and Khalij-al-Ajami (both Arabic terms for the Persian Gulf) or Bahr-al-Farsi (Arabic for the Persian Sea) have been used and there had been no doubts over the name of this gulf up to the last century.
All treaties signed by colonial powers since the 16th century have used one of these names. There were no doubts over the authenticity of this name even after the British Empire left this region and substantial political developments took place within Middle East.
Interestingly, in their diplomatic correspondences, all countries of the world, including Arab countries and even then newly formed states of the region used the term Persian Gulf for the body of water in south of Iran.
The important point is that this problem has emerged because of political intentions and by spending oil dollars a historically authentic name in international sources and documents has been challenged.
Political developments that started from the early 1990s accelerated use of forged names for this gulf. Along with mounting international pressures on the Islamic Republic of Iran and drawing contrived lawsuits forward (on the three Iranian islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa), these efforts have stepped up.
As one of the most strategic regions of the world, where there lie huge sources and routes of energy, huge consumption markets and lucrative market of modern, expensive military equipment, Middle East has security necessities that are unfortunately neglected, thus scene for the most fierce regional and trans-regional rivalries.
Iran's opponents, whether weak and powerful, are taking advantage of the international circumstances and mounting pressures on our country to achieve their goals.
Unlike the Reform era, during which a policy of regional trust-building and expansion of international ties had stopped escalation of tensions and regional rivalry, currently due to international pressures and three sanction resolutions passed against Iran, other states have found a chance to violate rights of the Iranian nation.
No doubt that as the most powerful and influential country of Middle East, the Islamic Republic of Iran has a strategic role in securing stability and peace in Middle East and warding off the threats. During all the years after the Islamic Revolution, others tried to portray a violent and aggressive image of Iran. But policies of the Reform era that followed a policy of trust-building and avoiding grounds of tension and threat, had significantly removed chances for interference of transregional powers.
Regardless of the governments' policies, all countries face a group of necessities imposed on them by history and geography. If these necessities aren't identified correctly by the country, its potentials will not be realized appropriately.
What is happening in the Persian Gulf today is caused by lack of a correct understanding of factors that direct the course of foreign affairs for our country. This lack of understanding has led to a series of anti-Iran propaganda, political and economic attempts that target its historical and cultural heritage.
For every country the priorities of foreign affairs, especially regarding the national interests, are realized through actual behaviors and not lip service. So we are waiting for a realistic approach that can –based on geopolitical conditions- correctly identify roots of other countries' presumptions.
Replacement of Persian Gulf by forged names in well-known websites or academic sources calls for a solid move by Iranians, whether in legal entities or individually.
The Iranian nation must do its best to preserve this invaluable heritage which symbolizes its identity. Setting a Persian Gulf Day is only a minor step towards protection of Iran's interests in this body of water and it should of course be accompanied by a realistic, wise foreign policy. Undoubtedly exploiting the academic and executive capabilities of the country will be of great help in this course.