Iran commemorates National Persian Gulf Day

TEHRAN,May 1(MNA) – Ceremonies were held across Iran on Tuesday to commemorate National Persian Gulf Day. National Persian Gulf Day marks the anniversary of the expulsion of Portuguese military forces from the Strait of Hormuz in 1622, during the reign of Safavid king Shah Abbas I (1587-1629). Although there is no dispute over the official name of the Persian Gulf among geographers or at international organizations like the United Nations, certain Arab countries and a few Western states and media outlets have begun using the false names the “Arabian Gulf” and “The Gulf” for this body of water. The Persian Gulf is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Historically and internationally it is only recognized as the Persian Gulf. Over the course of history, it has been called the Pars Sea, Pars Gulf, Fars Sea, Fars Gulf, or Bahre (Sea) Fars, all meaning Persian Sea or Persian Gulf. During a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that efforts to distort the name of the Persian Gulf and use a bogus name for this body of water are futile. He also called Iran a “peace-loving” country, adding that any hand seeking to encroach upon Iran’s territory would be cut off. Also, in a ceremony held in the southwestern port city of Bushehr on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that Iran would strongly defend its territorial integrity. He added that Iran would not allow any country to undermine security in the Persian Gulf region, which is one of the most strategic regions in the world. In a ceremony on Monday, a large map of the Persian Gulf, which was drawn on the sand of Hormoz Island over an area of 1200 square meters, was also unveiled. A long human chain was also formed on the shore of the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.