Conversation
The Persian Gulf: Why Does This Name Matter?
This conversation with Shervin Vakili, on the occasion of Persian Gulf National Day, addresses the historical, cultural, and political significance of this name. The program seeks to show why names are not just words, but part of historical memory and collective identity.
About this video
In this episode of the Enduring Iran series, Shervin Vakili, in conversation with Sajjad Fattahi, addresses the issue of the name "Persian Gulf" and its importance in Iranian history and identity. The occasion for the conversation is Persian Gulf National Day; a day named in commemoration of the expulsion of the Portuguese from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz during the Safavid era.
The central focus of the discussion is why toponyms matter and what consequences the alteration or distortion of a geographical name has for history, politics, and cultural identity. This conversation examines questions such as "Persian Gulf or Arabian Gulf?", the historical background of this name, the motivations for changing it, and the role of Iranian governments and society in safeguarding it.
The significance of this program lies in taking the issue of the name Persian Gulf beyond the level of a verbal dispute and analyzing it in connection with historical memory, Iranian identity, and the relationship of language with politics and geography.
