President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to announce a significant shift in US terminology regarding a key Middle Eastern waterway. According to two US officials, Trump is expected to declare that the United States will officially refer to the Persian Gulf as the "Arabian Gulf" or the "Gulf of Arabia" during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, scheduled for May 13 to 16.

This proposed change aligns with the terminology preferred by many Arab nations, which favor names reflecting their geographic region. Conversely, Iran has long asserted its historic and cultural ties to the body of water, maintaining that it should be internationally recognized as the Persian Gulf, a name used for centuries in global discourse.

The decision is expected to reignite debates over the naming of the Gulf, an issue that has historically sparked diplomatic tension between Iran and its Arab neighbors. Trump's move is seen as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Arab allies, reinforcing US partnerships in the Gulf region.

The announcement comes after Trump teased an "earth-shattering" policy change earlier in the week, building anticipation ahead of his Middle East tour. Notably, this is not the first time Trump has initiated a name change of a geographical feature; on his first day in office, he signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" within the US government’s internal documentation.

Observers are closely watching the potential fallout from this decision, with expectations that it may escalate tensions between Washington and Tehran at a time when regional stability is already fragile. The international community will also monitor reactions from Gulf nations and assess how this move might impact broader diplomatic dynamics in the Middle East.