Persian Gulf

The Greek name for this body of water - the "Persian Gulf" - has been in use since ancient times, for it signifies the first major nation-state in that area, namely the Persian Empire (now Iran). In the 1960s, with the rise of Arab nationalism Arabs began to call The Gulf the "Arabian Gulf". However, the Iranian government led two resolutions in the United Nations to officially recognize that body of water as the "Persian Gulf". The first announcement was made through the document UNAD, 311/Qen on March 5, 1971 and the second was UNLA 45.8.2 (C) on August 10, 1984. Most countries and organizations use the name "Persian Gulf".