TEHRAN - US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under fire after referring to the Persian Gulf as the “Arabian Gulf” in a post on X, reigniting a long-standing dispute over the internationally recognized name of the body of water.

In the post referencing US Central Command operations, Hegseth said that the USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy had transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in what he called the “Arabian Gulf” as part of a broader mission involving mine-clearing operations aimed at ensuring safe navigation through the region.

Iran’s Embassy in Austria said the reference was “no coincidence,” arguing that it reflected a political framing of the region. It said the US has “suffered a resounding defeat in the war against Iran—particularly over control of the Strait of Hormuz.” The embassy noted that Hegseth has “searched for the Strait of Hormuz in a wrong place, not knowing that it lies in the Persian Gulf.” It further suggested he repeat “Persian Gulf” ten times each morning.

Iran’s Vice President for Rural Affairs, Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh, also criticized the Pentagon chief in comments posted on X. He said: “Are you angry that your war-driven project has failed? You have every reason to be. Now you’re trying to milk the Arab countries? I understand. Not from you — but I do expect my Arab brothers not to spend their money on the delusions of someone who failed to defend them.”

He said the generals of Alexander the Great and the Mongols even failed to change the 2,500-year-old name of the Persian Gulf. Hosseinzadeh added a pointed remark referring to Hegseth as “no more than a captain,” in a jab contrasting him with historical military figures.

In Washington, Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari, who is of Iranian descent, said she had previously introduced the “Persian Gulf Act” aimed at protecting the historical designation amid earlier political discussions over renaming it. She emphasized that “Persian Gulf” remains the term used in international institutions, historical maps, and academic references for centuries. “Trump and Hegseth can’t change that now,” Ansari said.

The naming dispute has periodically resurfaced in regional politics, with “Arabian Gulf” used in some political contexts, while “Persian Gulf” remains the overwhelmingly dominant term in historical records, classical geography, medieval Islamic scholarship, early European cartography, and modern international institutions.

The latest exchange underscores how geographic terminology in the Persian Gulf region remains closely tied to broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global maritime chokepoint. It also reflects continuing friction in the aftermath of the February 28 war launched by the US and Israel against Iran and Tehran’s control over the strait.