TEHRAN -- Iran has criticized Iraqi authorities’ use of a misnomer for the Persian Gulf, saying misnaming the body of water contradicts the principle of good neighborliness and the friendly nature of the countries’ bilateral ties.
Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Thursday urged Baghdad against using the wrongful title for the body of water in order to fraternize third countries.
“In order to attract others’ friendship, one should not capitalize on such a rich asset as the regional countries’ historical solidarity,” the official stated.
The mischaracterization occurred earlier in the month as the southern Iraqi city of Basra was hosting the premier regional soccer competition, with local officials setting up billboards to welcome foreign teams to the “25th Arabian Gulf Cup.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani also recently used the distorted name for the Persian Gulf and defended his misnaming the body of water during a later interview with Germany’s DW channel.
Kanaani noted that the Iranian embassy in Baghdad had conveyed the Islamic Republic’s protest over the matter to Iraqi officials calling Iraq’s misnaming of the Persian Gulf “unacceptable,” and urging Baghdad “to respect international titles” such as that of the Persian Gulf.
As endorsed by the United Nations, the Persian Gulf’s name “has stayed the same over thousands of years in documents, maps, itineraries, and ancient texts,” the official said. “Concocting baseless titles does not serve to change this reality,” he added.
Last week, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic had summoned the Iraqi ambassador to Tehran over the issue.
“Despite enjoying strategic, brotherly, and deep relations with Iraq, we have clearly announced our protest ...and have conveyed the great Iranian nation’s sensitivity concerning the application of the exact and complete title for the Persian Gulf,” the top diplomat said.