WANA (Apr 12) – An Iranian-American member of the U.S. Congress has pushed back against recent remarks by American officials regarding the name of the Persian Gulf, stressing that the historic designation cannot be altered.

 

Yassamin Ansari responded after Pete Hegseth referred to the Persian Gulf using an alternative name on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). She noted that last summer, following a threat by Donald Trump to change the name of the body of water, she introduced the “Persian Gulf Act” in Congress.

 

Ansari emphasized that the name “Persian Gulf” has been recognized by international institutions for centuries and cannot be changed. She added that statements or actions by figures such as Trump and Hegseth do not have the power to alter this historical reality.

 

The reaction came after Hegseth, in an earlier Instagram post, referred to a mission aimed at clearing naval mines in the Persian Gulf while using a disputed name for the region—an action that has drawn criticism from some political figures.