Hassan Hanizadeh in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations stated: “Considering that the cultural and historical identity of the Iranian nation is under attack by certain states, the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council upon a proposal by the General Culture Council designated the 10th of April, marking the anniversary of the expulsion of Portuguese from the Strait of Hormuz “Persian Gulf National Day”. He added: The Persian Gulf is a complex issue, and unfortunately British colonialism since its creation of certain states on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf, has been trying to create division between Iran and these states over the name of the Persian Gulf.
Distortion of Persian Gulf Name Associated with Colonialism
He said that in order to secure the interests of their country and create a rift between the regional states the British authorities tried to change the name of the sea, adding: “The beginning of distorting the name of the Persian Gulf is associated with the phenomenon of colonialism. Taking advantage of their financial resources and paying tens of millions of dollars to Western and Arab media outlets, they have long been trying to change the historical reality of the Persian Gulf and use other fake terms for it.
The Persian Gulf Is 4,000 Years Old
Recalling that the Persian Gulf is the third largest waterway in the world, the regional affairs analyst said: “The historical reality of the Persian Gulf, according to existing maps, shows that for the past 4,000 years, the waterway has always been known as the Persian Gulf. There is no other name for the Persian Gulf, and the word is found in all books. According to documents, Greek historians (Herodotus, Xenophon, and Strabo) were the first to call the sea “Pars” or “Parseh.”
Failure of Efforts to Distort Historical Name of Persian Gulf
Hanizadeh continued: “Efforts to distort the historical name of the Persian Gulf will never succeed and are doomed to failure because the Persian Gulf is a historical fact and can never be changed.” Some of the maps and inscriptions about the Persian Gulf can certainly be easily recorded in the World Intellectual Heritage List.
He added: “Since the death of the late President of Egypt, Jamal Abdel Nasser, because of the spread of Pan-Arab currents efforts have been made to change the name the Persian Gulf but these efforts have failed and all historical documents and comments confirm that Iran, as a historical state with 6,000 years of civilization is associated with the name of this waterway.
Persian Gulf A Manifestation of Iranians’ power and Resistance against Colonialism
Hanizadeh said the name Persian Gulf is in the memory of the nations, adding: “The Persian Gulf has been a symbol of Iranian authority, resistance and struggle against colonialism and despite all efforts, the name of the Persian Gulf will be preserved in the social dimension too.”
“Some countries in the Persian Gulf and some other Arab states in the region are still trying to change the name of the Persian Gulf by paying bribes to some Arab and international media, but these fake names will never overshadow historical facts,” the Middle East affairs expert said. The Persian Gulf is a historical name that cannot be changed, just as the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are historical names that no one has been able to change.
The Persian Gulf Tied to Iranian Identity
Hanizadeh stressed that the Persian Gulf is not only a geographical location but a historic heritage with a record of thousands of years that has taken its identity from the Iranians and is also associated with the Iranian identity. He added: Efforts to change the name of the Persian Gulf have always prompted reactions from the Iranian people because the Persian Gulf has been the most important border area of Iran throughout history, which is still standing and no effort has been able to separate it from our country. Hence, this name has become a symbol of Iranians’ solidarity in modern times.
He considers the Persian Gulf an important component in the world’s political and economic equations and said: “The security of the Persian Gulf region is also common security and Iran is responsible for most of it. It is so because Iran enjoys high capabilities in naval power and naval manoeuvring and is naturally committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and maintaining its security with the cooperation of countries in the region. Meantime, the presence of foreign forces and military bases in the Persian Gulf will only result in tensions in the region and will not lead to stability and security.
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