The Arabian Gulf... A Message Clearer Than the Map

The Bottom Line

When Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf visited the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, a map behind him bore the inscription “Persian Gulf,” a direct affront to Iraqis. This was no fleeting snapshot but a clear message: Iran seeks to assert its dominance over the region and impose its preferred nomenclature for the Arabian Gulf.

It seemed as though Baghdad had become an open space for transmitting Iranian political messages. However, the response was swift from Iraqi Parliament Speaker Heibat al-Halbousi: a photo featuring a map labeled “Arabian Gulf.” No lengthy speech was needed; a single image sufficed to convey that Iraq is subordinate to no one and refuses to accept maps imposed by others.

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The issue extends beyond a single word on a map; it concerns a mindset that treats the region as if influence grants the right to redefine and rename it.

Iran is well aware of the Gulf’s sensitivity among Arabs. Therefore, using this designation within Baghdad cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence or a minor procedural detail. Crucially, al-Halbousi chose to respond from within Iraq itself: if your message is sent from Baghdad, the reply will also come from Baghdad. The Gulf is Arab in the hearts of its peoples, and its name is not a pressure tactic or a tool for political blackmail.

The final message was clear: respect for Iraq begins with respecting its identity and its Arab surroundings. Anyone visiting Baghdad as a guest must understand that Iraq is not a playground for imposing others’ agendas.

Thus, al-Halbousi delivered a political slap to Qalibaf, who must also realize that Iran is crumbling both internally and externally.

$ Kuwaiti journalist