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Iran Threatens Google Over Nameless Gulf

Call it Persian or face 'serious damages,' nation warns

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2012 11:34 PM CDT | Updated May 18, 2012 2:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – The body of water separating Iran from the Arabian peninsula is nameless on Google Maps, and Iran isn't happy about it. Iran's foreign ministry accuses Google of dropping the name Persian Gulf "as one of the seditionist acts taken as part of the soft war against the Iranian nation," Reuters reports. The ministry says Google will face legal action and "serious damages" if it does not label the gulf—known as the Arabian Gulf to Arab nations—the Persian Gulf.

Iranian media caused a national uproar earlier this month when it reported that Google had dropped the name Persian Gulf. But Google says the body of water has been left unlabeled from the start, notes the BBC. Iran has often criticized organizations for failing to use the name Persian Gulf. In 2010, the second Islamic Solidarity Games were canceled after Arab and Iranian organizers failed to reach an agreement on how to label the gulf on medals.

How Google Maps shows the gulf.
How Google Maps shows the gulf.   (Google Maps)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
ppacimr9ball
May 18, 2012 8:25 AM CDT
Who cares
JackNelsonSteward
May 18, 2012 6:36 AM CDT
Maybe we can draw a line equidistant from BOTH shores at all points, and call the water that touches Iran "The Persian Semi-Gulf,"  and the water that touches the other side "The Arab Semi-Gulf." See?  all fixed.
JackNelsonSteward
May 18, 2012 6:33 AM CDT
Y'know ... what's a "person" to do? Name it "Arabian Gulf" ... piss off the Persians ... Name it the "Persian Gulf ... piss of the Arabs ... Leave it blank ...
 

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