In a surprise move that came to light late Tuesday, President Donald Trump will announce renaming the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia in U.S. geographical nomenclature.
Two officials confirmed the move, which is likely intended to shake up geopolitical relations in the Middle East, to the Associated Press.
While the body of water has been broadly known as the Persian Gulf since the 16th century, many Middle Eastern countries, particularly Sunni Arab states, have pushed for it to be renamed.

Many of those states already use either “Gulf of Arabia” or “Arabian Gulf” to refer to the body of water.
Iran, meanwhile, has taken umbrage to any attempt to change it from the country’s former name, Persia — even suing Google in 2012 over the company’s …