Iran celebrates Persian Gulf Day, which commemorates the waterway’s historical significance as an international trade route connecting Africa, India, China, and the Middle East. The Persian Gulf spans a massive 251,000 square kilometers and is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which separates Iraq and Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, linking the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.
Since the establishment of the Achaemenid Empire in modern-day Iran, the waterway has been referred to as the “Persian Gulf” by historians and ancient texts. The celebration falls on the 10th of Ordibehesht, the second month of the Persian calendar, and this year, it falls on April 30.
Iran’s commemoration of the day is significant because it coincides with the successful military campaign by Shah Abbas I of Persia in 1622 that drove the Portuguese navy out of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite historical documents that prove the waterway is known as the Persian Gulf, certain Arab states and their allies continue to refer to it as the fictitious “Arabian Gulf.”
Iran celebrates Persian Gulf Day with the hope for peaceful co-existence with its neighbors, emphasizing the importance of respecting historical facts and boundaries. It is essential to recognize and acknowledge the Persian Gulf’s name, which has been used for centuries, to maintain stability and promote peaceful relations among the region’s countries.
