IRNA � As one of the main components of the world�s political and economic equations, Persian Gulf has deep roots in ancient history of Iran and has long been a symbol of Iranian resilience against colonialism.
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As the third largest gulf in the world, its 240,000 square kilometers width has embraced Iranian islands, including Kharg, Kish, Abu Moussa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, Qeshm, and Lavan.

Due to its geographical position, and its access to open seas has major significance among countries and governments and makes it a potential target to be dominated and to achieve so many countries have deployed their forces to this area.

As a contemporary instance of such invasions is the Portuguese dominance over the Iranian southern coasts in the Persian Gulf for a period of 117 years which finally was ended in 1622 by Imam-Quli Khan, the Governor of Fars during the reign of Shah Abbas I, Safavid dynasty.

In recent years, the oppressors in cooperation with some countries have made a lot of efforts all in vain to distort the name of the Persian Gulf having deep root in ancient history of Iran.

In order to stress the cultural and historical identity on the Iranian nation, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution named April 30, the Persian Gulf National Day as the anniversary of Portuguese eviction.

In order to give any comment about the naming of the Persian Gulf, we have to put into consideration the pre- and post-colonial eras, says Hassan Allahyari assistance professor of history in Persian Gulf University.

In this view, Iran�s history and particularly the Persian Gulf has been under the influence of colonialism. In pre-colonial era from both the political and the masses� view, the south gulf of Iran has been called Persian Gulf, he says.

In the meantime with the emergence of colonialism and heightening of tensions in the area, the political and social discourses continue their ways and colonial powers start using fake names to preserve and promote their interests and the story is still going on, he says.

However, the social aspect of the Persian Gulf�s name has been preserved and lives on. And definitely what has been continued throughout the history is nothing but the social components not the political systems, he added.

Before proposing the fake names for the Persian Gulf in the present era which is a colonial plot to create conflicts in the region, historical sources and the inhabitants of this area have used the name Persian Gulf, says Abbas Rezaei a researcher on the Persian Gulf region.

From the Greek and Roman terms such as �Sinus Persicus�, �Mare Persicum� to terms used in geographical and historical texts, including �al-Bahr al-Farsi� and �al-Khalij al-Farsi�, they all indicate the dominance of Iran over this area throughout the history, says Rezaei.

Allahyari marks the beginning of the Persian Gulf�s name distortion with colonialism stressing the Britain�s plot in the region to support the southern Persian Gulf States and make them revolt against Iran with various schemes. Iran�s disputes with Britain during the deposed Pahlavi dynasty paved the way for British conspirational policies and finally the plan to fake the name of Persian Gulf was plotted after the World War II.

As a strategic waterway in the world, the Persian Gulf has the traditional economy capacities in fishing and also with the discovery of oil and natural gas and the development of the oil and gas industries in the south of Iran, it has changed to a small world which has to be known as the human domination over geographical determinism, Allahyari mentioned.

The Persian Gulf is considered one of the essential components of the world�s equations; however, the political divergence has been the dominant discourse in the region in the past few years and if no efforts being made to remove it, then the southern states of the Persian Gulf will have to seek other ways to their economic developments with high prices and without Persian Gulf, he stresses.

The values prevailed in the Persian Gulf have drawn the world powers� attention to itself because the dominance over it and its resources will change strategic balance of power, says Rezaei while stressing that the Persian Gulf has a vital and decisive role in future regional and global developments.

Developing tourism industry also promotes security index, says Allahyari.

This industry is of certain significance and the natural beauties as well as the water sports and also the historical monuments in the islands and the ports of the region can be exploited in this realm, says Rezaei.

The Persian Gulf has got its identity from Iranians not only as a geographical region, but also as a historical heritage dating back to thousands of years ago and it is unbelievable and impossible to assume any other name for it and any attempt to change or distort its name will face Iranians� reaction, Rezaei says referring to the Persian Gulf as the symbol of Iranians solidarity in contemporary era.