Realiran to Oman Air: It’s “Persian Gulf” not “Arabian Gulf”

In an unusual move, state carrier Oman Air has apologized for inflight maps that labeled the waterway separating Iran from the Arabian Peninsula as the “Persian Gulf”!

The move comes after Arab social media users criticized Oman Air and demanded the label be changed, prompting the airline to temporarily disable the map on its seatback screens.

“Given that you are an Omani airline and an Arab one, I wish you would take immediate measures to correct the label of the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf which is proven in our history,” tweeted Hamad Midfa.

In an official statement released on Saturday, Oman Air described the map as a mistake, noting the planes had been leased from Kenya Airways. The Omani airline has asked Panasonic, which maintains its inflight entertainment systems, to change the map software without delay, Oman Air said, and “crew have been notified to disable the disturbing maps.”

In 2010, Iran warned that Airlines not referring to the waterway between Iran and the Arabian peninsula as the Persian Gulf will be banned from Iranian airspace.

The Persian Gulf is home to the Bahrain-based US Fifth Fleet, and Iran and the United Arab Emirates are embroiled in a territorial dispute over the sovereignty of three islands in the waterway.

Comment

Iranians are traditionally sensitive over the historic name of the waterway between Iran and seven Arab nations.

They have always insisted on the Persian Gulf, the original name found in most historical maps, textbooks and all official United Nations communications.

In 2004, Iran banned American National Geographic for using Arabian Gulf instead of the Persian Gulf. In 2005, National Geographic revised its world atlas use Persian.

It is generally recognized by the UN as the Persian Gulf, and that is the accurate name, but the rise of Pan-Arabism, Arab nationalism, and in particular the Gulf rivalry with Iran, which is also referred to as Persia, has fueled the issue.

In addition, Iran has more or less half coastline of the Gulf though the other seven Arab countries share the other half (one country to seven countries!!!!)

Considering all this, it seems improper that some Arab countries prefer prejudice to wisdom and use a false name for the Persian Gulf.

The Persian Gulf was called by this name even before the advent of Islam. If there was any need to change the real and historical name of the Persian Gulf, the Prophet Mohammad would definitely have changed it. So, what is the reason that some Arab countries chauvinistically call for the change of this real and historical name, merely because it bears a Persian name? 

How is that some Arab countries, neglecting all the historical truths, insist on using the false name, but expect Iranians not to inform those centers that use this false name?

Iranians call those interested parties to use the real name of the Persian Gulf is not the result of racial prejudice, but it is a logical measure that is accepted by any wise and fair person, as it is accepted in international circles, including the United Nations, and all are suggested to observe it.

PHOTO: Reuters

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