“The Persian Gulf is an important part of the undeniable and common identity of Iran and the region and is a natural resource full of benefits” for its littoral states, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a post on Twitter on Sunday on the occasion of the National Persian Gulf Day.
He said getting the most out of the Persian Gulf necessitates security, convergence and collective participation of the littoral states.
Iranian people on Sunday held nationwide ceremonies to celebrate the national day, which symbolizes the Islamic Republic’s unwavering anti-hegemonic stance and dismisses futile attempts by certain regional countries to rename the strategic body of water.
In a tweet to mark the occasion, Iran's Foreign Ministry said, "The name of the ‘Persian Gulf’ is born with the history. All historical & international sources, ancient maps, documents, books as well as UN directive confirm that the body of water in south of Iran has always been called #PersianGulf."
The Persian Gulf — which spans some 251,000 square kilometers — is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, which links the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.
The strategic inland sea is an international trade route connecting West Asia to Africa, India, and China.