Name of Arabian Gulf is Illegal

November 29, 2010



The White House

U.S. Secretary of State

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Navy



Re: The Persian Gulf




Mr. President, Honorable Secretary of State, and Chief of Naval Operations,

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the recent news that the U.S. Navy has revised its Style Guide in connection with a body of water located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula known historically and internationally as the Persian Gulf. Specifically, the U.S. Navy has revised its guidelines in adding the following notation:

Arabian Gulf - use instead of Persian Gulf;

while revising the following entry:

Persian Gulf - use Arabian Gulf. "Gulf" is acceptable in second reference. Note: The Arabian Sea is its own body of water and should not be confused with references to the Arabian Gulf. (http://www.navy.mil/submit/view_styleguide.asp)

The U.S. government is in possession of a plethora of evidence with respect to the history of the Persian Gulf as well as the earliest world maps correctly noting the name of this body of water. The U.S. government is also well aware of the 2006 United Nations confirmation of the name Persian Gulf, and its statement that any change, destruction, or alteration of the names registered in historical deeds and maps is like the destruction of ancient works and is considered as an improper action (Twenty-third Session, Vienna, 28 March 4 April, 2006). Further, the June 1, 2009 Captioning Style Guide published by the U.S. Dept. of Defense defines Persian Gulf as:

Persian Gulf. Do not use Arabian Gulf. Note that the Arabian Sea is its own body of water and should not be confused with references to the Arabian (Persian) Gulf.

It is erroneous to assume this illegal geographic name change will bring harm to the despotic regime in Tehran a regime that does not care about Iranian culture and heritage let alone identity. To the contrary, it is a psychological warfare against the Iranian people, and counterproductive to their endeavor to fight Islamist terrorists in taking back their country.

The U.S. Army Center of Military History which at least twice makes reference to the Persian Gulf in its Style manual quotes the Father of this great nation George Washington as stating: I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.

We respectfully request that the U.S. Navy revert back this recent gross oversight that may result in unimaginable and irreversible consequences in fostering good relations with the people of Iran at a critical time in history. The U.S. foreign policy should support secular, freedom loving forces to gain long-term benefits.

Respectfully submitted,
Iranians advocating Freedom, Democracy, Secularism & Human Rights in Iran