Iran has strongly reacted to remarks suggesting the Strait of Hormuz be renamed after US President Donald Trump. The response has added to already rising tensions between Tehran and Washington over regional maritime control. Officials warned that such statements could further inflame diplomatic disputes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on social media, criticising the proposal and calling it inaccurate. He said referring to the strategic waterway by an alternative name was a serious mistake. He also stressed the importance of using internationally recognised geographical terms.
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Moreover, Araghchi shared a past video of Donald Trump acknowledging an earlier naming error. He argued that misleading terminology could increase unnecessary tension in an already volatile region. The statement reflected Iran’s broader opposition to perceived political messaging around the waterway.
Today is Persian Gulf Day in Iran, marking our ancestors’ expulsion of Portuguese from Strait of Hormuz 400 years ago.
POTUS uses the correct term “Persian Gulf”, not the Pentagon’s fake version. But calling Hormuz anything else is indeed a “terrible mistake”. pic.twitter.com/KcGwj83W2B
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 30, 2026
The controversy follows a social media post by US President Donald Trump, which reportedly referred to the Strait of Hormuz with an alternative name. The post included a map label that sparked immediate criticism from Iranian officials. It comes amid wider geopolitical friction in the Gulf region.
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Additionally, the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route for energy supplies. Any escalation in rhetoric around the area raises concerns about maritime security and oil market stability. Diplomatic tensions over the waterway continue alongside broader regional conflicts.