The Persian Gulf Organization has received many complaints from its members in the past several weeks that the Western media again has started using an incorrect name instead of Persian Gulf. The USA and Western military officers, especially those stationed in the Middle East intentionally use "The Gulf," or "Arabian Gulf" in their presentations. It seems that the Western countries media want to antagonize Iran or Iranians.

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The Persian Gulf Organization (http://www.persiangulfonline.org) has received many complaints from its members in the past several weeks that the Western media again has started using an incorrect name instead of Persian Gulf. The USA and Western military officers, especially those stationed in the Middle East intentionally use "The Gulf," or "Arabian Gulf" in their presentations. On July 31, 2010, the CNN reporter of the "Inside the Middle East," program which was repeated every 30 minutes kept using the incorrect term. It seems that whenever Western countries want to antagonize Iran or Iranians, their military personnel and/or their media use the incorrect term.

The e-mails that the Persian Gulf Organization has received have come from over thirty cities in Iran. E-mails from outside of Iran have come from countries such as Canada, the USA, Japan, the UAE, Kuwait, and many more. As an organization, members plea for respect for the name Persian Gulf.

The misrepresentation of the name of the Persian Gulf has caused distress in the international communities, especially among Iranians. We wonder who is behind these actions. We created an Organization to document that the Persian Gulf name has been used for over 2500 years. "Persian Gulf" is not just a name; it is a part of world history. No one can change it by stating it incorrectly. To do so is also contrary both to the United Nations' recognition of the name and to respect for international values.

In 2004, the National Geographic Society (NGS) for the first time used both the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Gulf name. Organizations such as CNN and NGS obviously do not have the legal authority to change the name of a country, region, or a gulf. The United Nations with its 22 Arab member countries has on two occasions officially declared the name of the water between Iran and its Arab neighbors as the Persian Gulf. The first announcement was made pursuant to the document UNAD, 311/Gen on March 5, 1971, and the second was pursuant to UNLA 45.8.2 ( C ) on August 10, 1984.

In petitions that have been circulated the number of individuals who have written to express their dismay has surpassed several hundred thousand. Among those individuals, there are many university professors, history scholars, and others who have made clear why the correct name of this body water should be used.

When an organization and/or individual intentionally use a wrong name, its reputation comes into question. It seems that the current wave of anti-Iran sanctions has encouraged some organizations and individuals to compromise accuracy and respect for international law. These organizations and/or individuals must be held accountable for promoting wrong information.

There is a belief among the international community that these organizations or individuals have received financial incentives for using another name in addition to Persian Gulf. These organizations and individuals need to know that the Persian Gulf is not the preferable name, but the only name, and any other name is a complete misnomer and a betrayal of the heritage of those who have lived for centuries in the Persian Gulf.

Organizations such as CNN and NGS should investigate and publish the rules for changing names of geographic entities. If Americans decided to change the Gulf of Mexico to the AmericanGulf would this be possible? What about changing the Sea of Japan to the KoreanSea or the Arabian Sea to the PersianSea, and the Indian Ocean to the PakistanOcean?

The question should not be why CNN or NGS is mistaken but rather how gullible their audiences are. International conflicts and wars have sometimes started with small mistakes. Neither CNN, NGS, nor the USA military Generals have any rational basis for doing this, unless they plan to begin using multiple names for various parts of the world.

Historical facts cannot be changed. Attempts to do so result in injustice. People make history, but they cannot change history. With due respect to the Western media, "Persian Gulf" reflects Persian contributions to the whole world and the sacrifices Persians made to keep the gulf open so that other nations could benefit from it. When King Dariush of Persia after ten years of intense labor inaugurated the first Suez Canal in 498 B.C., the world became connected through maritime transportation. Documentation shows that many delegations came to Persia to celebrate the Persian New Year (Nowruz) every March 21st by sailing through the Persian Gulf. Persians never changed the name of the cities they ruled and did not impose their religion upon other nations. Persians have been attacked by many countries forcing them to accept foreign religions. Persians have supported free trade and promoted human rights for all religious groups.

There are lessons to be learned from CNN and NGS, because there have been other organizations such as the BBC and the Guardian which have taken advantage of problems in the region and have used the incorrect names instead of Persian Gulf. It is disappointing to observe that the political climate of the day in the USA overshadows so much discourse, with a direct impact on CNN and NGS's publications and reporting.

Using "A. Gulf" or "The Gulf" instead of "Persian Gulf" may appear humorous similar to the renaming of French fries to Freedom fries after France failed to support the American invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, CNN and NGS have lost much of their creditability and jeopardized the respect that international community had for them.

Persian Gulf has been the only label sanctioned for U.S. government use since the State Department's Board of Geographical Names settled the issue in 1917. We are perplexed as to what basis the American military and media are using the wrong name and whether there are any consequences of a financial nature to the change of internationally recognized name such as access to Arab markets or direct subsidies from Arab countries of Qatar and U.A.E.

We are hopeful that the management of CNN, NGS and other Western organizations will maintain their reputation and that they will publish and/or broadcast information which is unbiased, apolitical, and fair. Regardless of the reason(s) for the mistake, we firmly believe it is in the best interest of international community to use the correct term of Persian Gulf. Mass media must be committed to objectivity and honesty.

Iranians have lived for thousands of years in Iran. We have faced enemies and difficulties, yet we have kept our identity. Attacks from Greeks and Arabs among others, have hurt us, but we have always survived and have produced some of the best artists, poets, and scientists in the world. Iranians will continue to contribute positively wherever they may choose to live; however, they will not accept destruction of their country or their heritage.

Authors Bio:

Iran, pronounced Eeran NOT Eye-ran...".> Hint: Italy: Eetaly not Eye-taly.


Iran has been in the region properly termed 'West Asia' -- not the 'Middle East' for thousand of years.



It is heart-warming to see more and more scholars look past politics to discover Iran's contributions to science, film, and literature. One good piece of evidence is the display of Iranian artifacts in the majority of the world's museums.

The term 'Middle East' is a fake term invented in the 20th century for the benefit of rationalizing British (and hence European) imperial interests.

The "Islamic Civilization" is another fake term. Interesting that Western societies do not lump themselves with Koreans and Filipinos onto a single "Christian Civilization."

After living and working in many countries, I have become an environmentalist. I am an independent business Professor and documentary film producer about environment and creatures in it.

I have spent most of my professional life as a university Professor and as an Advisor to companies seeking to streamline their operations and to make them more efficient. My Doctorate Degree is in Quantitative Methods, Production and Operations Management. As a University Professor, I received Outstanding Professor Awards from several universities.

As a film producer, I received the 'Best Foreign Film Award' from several international festivals for my documentary films, e.g., on the spider-tailed viper of Iran which it received a Panda Award from Wildscreen Film Festival in England in October 2018. The award is called Green Oscar among environmentalists. 2019 Awards: NaturVision, Deutscher Wildlife Filmpreis, Germany. 22 Gran Paradiso Film Festival, Cogne, Italy.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species listed Spider-tailed Viper on August 27, 2019. This Convention is in Geneva, Switzerland. This action will make sure when I pass away this creature will continue to live.

I welcome competition while my main goal is to educate public and protect the precious environment until I pass away.

The earth belongs to all of us and sadly is in need of care. Dumping waste, especially poisonous weed killers for weeds and Crops similar to "agent orange," should be banned.

Native people should not be forced out of their homes to make room for settlers who arrive from different countries.
Western countries and Russia have not been punished for their crimes against humanity


My professional and personal experience has convinced me that the world has become more dangerous and threatening. I have created several NGOs to protect what is left of the environment and of the creatures in it and to preserve historical heritages with emphasis on Iran's heritage and contributions to this world.

Favorite Quotes which most of them are my own summarize the way I believe:

* Enlightenment is the goal of media but delusion is often its true target.

* The prerequisite for peace is justice for all people and for all nations.

* In the past, weapons were manufactured to fight wars, today wars are manufactured to sell weapons.

* Seeking justice is meaningless if it is not translated into action.

* Western societies and Russia share responsibility for the loss of free societies in many parts of the world, especially in less developed countries. Western countries, Russia and China have depleted natural resources, looted national treasures displaying them in their museums in exchange for deceptive freedom and wealth.

* "Super Powers" would not be "Super Powers" if they minded their own business.

* Give a man a gun, he may kill someone; give a man a bank, he will kill those who disagree with Western countries' foreign policies.

* "A hungry man is an angry man" Illegal sanctions create hungry man.

* People should not be indoctrinated with lies, only to learn the truth later. Every time a truth is told, some new understanding and tolerance between people and nations can take root.

* Poor does not mean stupid. Rich does not mean civilized and smart.

* The more simply I live and travel, the more I am able to experience life around the world.

* The news is not as bad as you think it is; no news can be as good as you think it is.

* Heaven and Hell is a concept from Zoroastrian religion which has been borrowed by other religions e.g. Islam & Christianity. To me, Heaven is the last twenty years of one's life when you can look back and smile. Hell is when you look back and suffer remorse.

* Happiness isn't where you find it. Happiness is where you create it.
* Bombing innocent people in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere must stop.

* Any person with a 🔫 gun may rob a bank. Any person that owns a bank is capable of robbing the 🌎 world especially weaker countries.