Iranian media report that the Iranian government plans to ban from its waters ships whose names include only the word Gulf instead of Persian Gulf.
State television quotes a ports official Monday as saying that unnamed countries were making "mischievous attempts to change the true name of the Persian Gulf." The official said vessels with such vaguely worded names would be prevented from reaching Iran's southern coasts.
Some nations refer to the body of water between Iran and Saudi Arabia as the Arabian Gulf.
The Press TV report said certain Arab countries that lie along the Gulf have intensified their efforts to change what it called the waters' "ancient designation."
Tensions between non-Arab Iran and its neighbors have become somewhat more pronounced in recent weeks, as officials speak out about what they see as a potential Iranian ascendancy in the region.
