The following is from the UN directive in regards to the name of the Persian Gulf:

UN directive of August 18 1994 {94-33224 (E) 180894} Stating: "Attention is once again drawn to editorial directive ST/CS/SER.A/29 and Corr.1 and Add.1 on the use of the term 'Persian Gulf'. The purpose of the present addendum is to urge that care be taken to ensure the appropriate use of this term in documents, publications and statements prepared by the Secretariat. The full term 'Persian Gulf' should be used in every case instead of the shorter term 'Gulf', including in repetitions of the term after its initial use in a text." Or the May 14, 1999 { 99-14427 (E) 200599 UNST/CS/SER.A/29/Rev.1} , which is stipulating the follow: "1. The term 'Persian Gulf' is used in documents, publications and statements emanating from the Secretariat as the standard geographical designation for the sea area between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. The full term 'Persian Gulf' is always used to designate that sea area when it is first referred to in a text and is repeated thereafter whenever necessary for the sake of clarity. 2. The term 'Gulf' is used in documents, publications and statements emanating from the Secretariat to identify or refer to the general geographical area surrounding or adjacent to the sea area referred to in paragraph 1 above or to refer to the situation around that sea area. The terms 'Gulf area', 'Gulf region' and 'Gulf States' are examples of such usage. "

خليجِ هميشه فارس

در اين قضيه‌ی اعتراض به نشنال جيوگرافيک سرِ گذاشتنِ کلماتِ Arabian Gulf توی پرانتز بعد از Persian Gulf در نقشه‌ی خليجِ فارس به نظرم يک مساله‌ی مهم دارد گم می‌شود که اتفاقآ خيلی اساسی‌تر از نامِ يک تکه آب است، و آن اطلاقِ توضيحِ "Occupied by Iran, Claimed by UAE" در موردِ جزايرِ ابوموسی و دو تنب در اين اطلس است. با اين توضيح، نشنال جيوگرافيک به‌وضوح در موردِ جزايرِ سه‌گانه طرفِ امارات را گرفته است (هرچند از يک نظرِ الفاظی که به‌کار رفته‌اند، ممکن است با واقعيتِ خارجی، اين که جزاير دستِ ايران هستند و امارات در موردشان ادعای حقوقی دارد، مطابق باشند، ولی استفاده از کلمه‌ی Occupied کاملآ غرض‌ورزانه و پيش‌داورانه است) و برخلافِ ادعاهايش، به هيچ‌وجه جانبِ بی‌طرفی را رعايت نکرده است (البته نکته‌ای هم که در موردِ ابوموسی وجود دارد اين است که خودِ ايران هم هميشه قبول داشته است که نيمه‌ی جنوبی جزيره متعلق به امارات است، و الآن هم فکر می‌کنم اين قسمت از جزيره دستِ امارات باشد، هرچند مطمئن نيستم). نشنال جيوگرافيک را می‌توان به‌خاطرِ اين حرکتش متهم به راه انداختنِ پروپاگاندا عليهِ ايران کرد و اين که قصد دارد اذهانِ مردم را عليهِ حق مالکيتِ ايران بر اين جزاير بسيج کند.

از اين مساله‌ی خيلی مهم که بگذريم، به نظرِ من سر اسمِ خليج خيلی داريم زياده‌روی می‌کنيم. از هرکس که می‌گويد نامِ Arabian Gulf جعلی‌ست می‌پرسم: يعنی Persian Gulf کمتر از Arabian Gulf جعلی‌ست؟ اصلآ کدام نام‌گذاری‌ای هست که «جعل» نباشد؟ کسانی که خليج را از نزديک ديده‌اند يا در آن شنا کرده‌اند يا از بالای آن پرواز کرده‌اند به من بگويند کجای آن کلمه‌ی «فارس» نوشته شده؟؟؟ ما ايرانی‌ها برای خود قرارداد کرده‌ايم که اسم آن تکه‌ی آبی را که در سواحلِ جنوبیِ چندتا از استان‌هايمان قرار دارد بگذاريم خليجِ فارس. کشورهای ديگر هم اکثرآ به همين اسم می‌شناسندش. اما کشورهای عربی که در جنوبِ همين تکه آب قرار دارند، قرار گذاشته‌اند که اسمش را بگذارند الخليج العربي. روی همين حساب هم بعضی وقت‌ها کشورهای ديگر به نامِ خلیجِ عربی می‌شناسندش. عرب‌های جنوب به‌همان اندازه نسبت به اين آب حق دارند که ايرانی‌های شمال. خودِ آب هم تاجايی که من می‌دانم اسمِ خود را نمی‌داند و نه زمين و نه زمان هيچ‌وقت بر اين آب نامی ننهاده‌اند.

به نظرِ من اگر نگرانيم، بايد اول نگرانِ از دست دادنِ جزاير سه‌گانه باشيم و اهميتِ استراتژيکِ آن‌ها در کنترلِ رفت‌وآمدهای خليجِ فارس/عربی. اگر هم می‌خواهيم در موردِ نام آن آب‌ها های‌وهوی کنيم اميدوارم اقلآ خودمان بدانيم که زيربنای اين های‌وهوی کشک است. مثلِ سياست‌مدارانمان که قاعدتآ می‌دانند نصفِ بيشترِ حرف‌هايشان کشک است ولی به‌ هر حال بايد حرف‌های کشک را هم بزنند.

پ.ن. از همه‌ی اين حرف‌ها گذشته، به سفارشِ پندار می‌توانيد توی وب‌لاگتان با کلماتِ Arabian Gulf به صفحه‌ای که لينک داده‌ام بلينکيد تا بلکه به زورِ بمبِ گوگلی هم که شده همه‌مان قدری خودارضايیِ ملی‌گرايانه بکنيم.                                         arabian gulf does not exist. PERSIAN GULF is correct.

Following publication and electronic dissemination of World Atlas 2005 of the National Geographic , a professional and renowned Society, there are some arbitrary changes in some geographical names in Persian Gulf, namely; adding the Fake Name Arabian Gulf in parallel, using Sheikh-shoeyb for Iranian Island of Lavan as well as Qeys for Iranian Island of Kish.

There is also an absolutely meaningless politically motivated, irresponsible, biased and offensive phrase in red color used for the three Iranian Islands in Persian Gulf Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb & Abu Musa (Occupied by Iran – Claimed by U.A.E)!!!

Another clear disrespect to Iranian Nation and ignorance of international standards, is using a fake name for Persian Gulf!

The question is: what have been the ill-intentions to make such arbitrary changes against the internationally recognized historical and cultural heritage and the sovereign rights of a nation with a well-known long history of civilization?

Primarily, it was supposed that they may be unintentional mistakes, but unfortunately after the interview of Mr. Allen Carol, the chief of the editors of the Atlas maps with media, stating that despite using credible international sources like UN, U.S State Dep., Embassies in Washington D.C., and other organizations, this is the National Geographic Society that takes the final decision for selection of Geographical Names!!! The question raises whether the Sovereignty of states and their historical and cultural heritage is a matter to be decided over by any individual or organization arbitrarily??!! So what is international law for? What is the value of international custom and international treaty as the legitimate and recognized common language of international community? Is a scientific and cultural society competent to decide or compromise the sovereign rights of a nation?!

What does Mr. Allen Carol mean by De Facto Policy of National Geographic based on selection of the practically used names, irrespective of name or names used by certain individuals or groups. Arguably, War, genocide and territorial claims are also still practiced every now and then in parts of the world, but is the mere existence of any such practice in international community enough to justify its legitimacy and legality?! Nevertheless, Is the National Geographic acting as the world authority to judge and decide the right practice?

Does National Geographic Society consider International Custom as a certain individual or group?! Is the United Nations Organization a certain group or individual? Is the government of the United States and other states a certain group or individuals?! Then, who remains there to compose international community?

Mr. Allen Carol continues that the reason of using the fake name is that some countries of the Persian Gulf region have chosen and are using this fake name!

Is initiating and using any fake and illegal action a legitimate justification to change the reality and rights of others?! Moreover, is the National Geographic Society the competent international authority to judge and recognize the standard geographical names?! Does repeating robbery legitimize and establish it?!

In another strange argument, He opines that the other reason for using the fake name is to facilitate web search for internet users?! Is it really possible to ignore the rights of nations and justifying this transgression of rights with a simple explanation of facilitation of affairs?!

It was a totally unfair justification when he added that since National Geographic should satisfy all customers and interlocutors, there is no way but to balance the names!!! It is really regrettable that an institution violates the sovereign rights of a whole nation arbitrarily in order to satisfy his clients! National Geographic Society can satisfy his clients and customers on his own pocket, but not on others'. For sure it is a unique and unprecedented argument that is more like a humor!



Hereby, for the purpose of repetition of evident facts, we would like to have you review again some historical and legal evidences and let you know the weakness of National Geographic arguments, of course if explanations by Mr. Allen Carol represent the policies of national geographic society.

As is well-known, International custom and treaty regulate the relations among international actors as is recognized under the UN Charter. Here we just intend to remind you that with respect to the Persian Gulf, both international treaty and international custom recognize Persian Gulf strongly and clearly in a way that are not deniable at all.

With regard to treaty law, you can refer to all United Nations Documents and Treaties where you may not find a single case that Persian Gulf is named differently. Also, The United Nations with 22 Arab member States has on two occasions officially declared the unalterable name of the sea between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula as the Persian Gulf. The first announcement was made through the document UNAD, 311/Geneva on March 5, 1971 and the second was UNLA 45.8.2 (C) on August 10, 1984.

The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (PCGN) has advised states to Use the correct term for the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the Persian Gulf.


In addition to the above mentioned, International custom clearly demonstrates that along the history, the waterway located between the southern Iranian shores and Saudi Arabian Peninsula, have been called Persian Gulf. All credible and international sources show this. You may refer to the following links just as a sample. Please let us know if you could find a single case that Persian Gulf has been called another way?

As just some examples of the international custom, you may have a look at all the following maps and find the name Persian Gulf.