President Donald Trump intends to announce during his upcoming Saudi Arabia visit next week that the United States will officially refer to the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" or "Gulf of Arabia," according to two US officials speaking anonymously to The Associated Press on May 7.

For Iranians, both pro and against the current Islamic Republic, the "Persian Gulf" is a red line and could destroy chances of a rapprochement between Tehran and Washington on May 10 in Oman, where Iran's foreign minister was expected to meet with Trump envoy Steve Wiktoff.

The potential name change has already provoked a strong reaction from inside Iran, with officials, including the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, turning to social media to lambast those spreading the news, suggesting they are "politically motivated" from "forever warriors." 

Senior international relations diplomat Reza Nasri warning that "nothing can unite Iranians with diverse political views against America like using a fake name for the Persian Gulf."

Nasri cautioned that if Trump proceeds with the renaming, it would trigger widespread protests from millions of Iranian emigrants both across the United States and at American embassies worldwide.

This is not the first time Trump has sparked controversy over the waterway's name. During his first term in 2017, his use of "Arabian Gulf" prompted Iran's then-president Hassan Rouhani to suggest Trump needed to "study geography."

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif famously remarked at the time that "Everyone knew Trump's friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too."

That name has been widely known as the Persian Gulf since the 16th century, though newer Arab states bordering the waterway are increasingly using "Arabian Gulf" in their own documentation. The US military has already been referring to it as the Arabian Gulf in official statements for years, which has already irked the Iranians.

The US-based Royalist movement, led by former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, also came out in defence of the older name for the body of water. It wrote on X (formerly Twitter) "There has always been and will only ever be one name for the Persian Gulf."

The pro-Iran lobby NIAC in the US also came out behind the original name of the Gulf, which has recently been referred to by Western news agencies as "The Gulf" not to upset Arabs who have become increasingly demanding in the name change. 

The move is likely being pushed behind the scenes by Arab countries on the peninsula and Israel, which knows that the name is a red line for the Iranians and could use it to stop negotiations between the two sides.

Iranians inside the country raised alarm about threats to the Persian Gulf, according to a compilation published on May 7 in local media.

"Both its life and its identity are in danger. We should take seriously the conspiracy of Arabs and Trump to forge the identity of this historic waterway," warned one commenter, connecting environmental concerns with geopolitical tensions.

In response, another participant argued: "America and Arabs have no history or civilisation to be a source of authenticity and pride, which is why they call the authentic Gulf of Mexico the 'American Gulf' and call the authentic, always Persian Gulf by another name. Meanwhile, we remain silent instead of renaming Arab embassy streets after the Persian Gulf or filing complaints in international forums."

One commenter noted that "the correct term is the Sea of Makran, not the Sea of Oman," highlighting the region's ongoing sensitivities around geographic naming conventions.

While Trump can change the name for official US government purposes, he cannot dictate international usage. His upcoming Middle East tour includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—all countries bordering the disputed body of water.

The White House and National Security Council have not yet responded to requests for comment on the planned announcement.

Updated 11:19 BST