Iran To Sue Google Over Dropping Persian Gulf Name

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran says it will sue Google over dropping the name of the Persian Gulf on Google Maps.

The threat comes after the famous search engine left the body of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula nameless on its online map service.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says that if Google does not restore the name of the Persian Gulf, it will face "serious damages."

Mehmanparast told the semiofficial Mehr news agency Thursday that Tehran has already warned Google of possible legal action.

Iranians are highly sensitive about the name of the body of water, which has historically and internationally been known as the Persian Gulf.

Some Arab states insist on calling it the Arabian Gulf. The issue has stirred up tensions between Iranians and Arabs.

Check out the slideshow to see some of the craziest sightings in Google Maps and Google Earth.

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'Atlantis' Underwater City, Atlantic Ocean
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jenius"></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jenius">Jenius</a>:
Italy's Big Pink Bunny
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=44.244273,7.769737&spn=0.002206,0.004227" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>. (Via <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/134186/in_pictures_the_strangest_sights_in_google_earth.html" target="_hplink">PCWorld</a>)
Mystery Figure
Via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr0qiivJZgI&feature=player_embedded" target="_hplink">YouTube</a>.
Blue Tree, Australia
View it at <a href="http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=2005&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=-34.073198,150.75777&z=19" target="_hplink">Google Sightseeing</a>.
Bottomless Pit, Libya
Via <a href="http://www.techeblog.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=160547&photo_key=35314" target="_hplink">TechEBlog</a>.
Iraq's Mysterious Red Lake
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33+23%2746.08%22+N+44+29%2717.03%22E&sll=33.550551,-44.483643&sspn=4.046476,9.799805&ie=UTF8&ll=33.396999,44.488063&spn=0.007918,0.01914&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>. (Via <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1881770_1881787_1881782,00.html" target="_hplink">TIME</a>)
Comet
Via <a href="http://www.techeblog.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=160547&photo_key=35336" target="_hplink">TechEBlog</a>.
'UFO'
Via <a href="http://www.techeblog.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=160547&photo_key=35315" target="_hplink">TechEBlog</a>.
'The Badlands Guardian,' Alberta, Canada
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=50+00%2737.76%22+N+110+07%2700.86%22W&sll=33.225406,-111.595216&sspn=0.003967,0.00957&ie=UTF8&ll=50.010952,-110.11513&spn=0.006095,0.01914&t=h&z=16" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>. (Via <a href="http://www.canada.com/globaltv/edmonton/story.html?id=977b4fcb-81ad-4c44-bbfa-baaa800c6dc5&k=30095." target="_hplink">canada.com</a>)
The Firefox, Oregon
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=45.123785,-123.113962&spn=0.012112,0.024097&t=h" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>.
KFC Mapversiting, Nevada
Read more about this advertising strategy <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,229308,00.html" target="_hplink">here</a>. View the real thing at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.646,-115.7507&spn=0.01,0.01&t=p&q=37.646,-115.7507" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>.
Capsized Boat, Iraq
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.541634,47.825445&z=16&hl=en&t=h" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>.
Triple Rainbow, South Carolina
Via <a href="http://www.rodsbot.com/google-earth-3665.htm" target="_hplink">RodsBot.com</a>.
Desert 'Crop Circle,' Nevada
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.401437,-116.86773&z=15&hl=en&t=h" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>. (Via <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/134186/in_pictures_the_strangest_sights_in_google_earth.html" target="_hplink">PCWorld</a>)
'Eat Pecans,' New Mexico
View it at <a href="http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=585&c=&ll=32.241354,-106.707501&spn=0.006405,0.009673&t=k&z=0&hl=en" target="_hplink">Google Sightseeing</a>.
Crop Circle
Via <a href="http://www.techeblog.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=160547&photo_key=35292" target="_hplink">TechEBlog</a>.
Truck Accident, North Dakota
Via <a href="http://googlesightseeing.com/2007/03/truck-crash/" target="_hplink">Google Sightseeing</a>.
Expletive
Via <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/10/giant-profanity/" target="_hplink">The Register</a>.
Concentric Shapes
Via <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr0qiivJZgI&feature=player_embedded" target="_hplink">YouTube</a>.
Pac Man
Via <a href="http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/11/crop_circles_in_goog.html" target="_hplink">Google Earth Blog</a>.
Jesus Loves You, Idaho
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=43%C2%B038%2743.00%22N+115%C2%B059%2733.50%22W&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=43.645268,-115.992622&spn=0.002756,0.007178&t=k&om=1" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>. (Via <a href="http://www.dvhardware.net/article14647.html" target="_hplink">DarkVision Hardware</a>)
World Peace, Ontario, Canada
View it at <a href="http://www.rodsbot.com/google-earth-3660.htm" target="_hplink">RodsBot.com</a>.
Dino Maze, England
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&ll=52.55885,-1.057756&z=17" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>.
Swastika Building
View it at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Coronado+CA&t=k&ll=32.676138,-117.157763&spn=0.001508,0.002596&om=1" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>.
Greenland Oddity
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tobiasaurusrex"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/profiles/641629-tiny.png?20100701194750" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tobiasaurusrex">tobiasaurusrex</a>: At 70* North, 40* West in Greenland, there is a massive, marbled prism sumberged in the snow, and a censored block as well.
Freeway love for Gina
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tarzan1234"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tarzan1234">tarzan1234</a>: Sighted on freeway 520 in Seattle, Washington
Strange Patterns Over Myton, Utah
via Patrick B.
Kenya Multiple Swastika Buildings
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/kipper84"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/kipper84">kipper84</a>: This is in Nairobi Kenya close to Kenyatta Hospital
Abandoned Ships from the Aral Sea
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Quwhellyicquid"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/profiles/1015319-2-tiny.png?20100715131311" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Quwhellyicquid">Quwhellyicquid</a>: Ships now are on dry land since the Aral Sea has dried up
Area 52 - Nelis Air Force Base
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the_odyssey"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/profiles/1179470-tiny.png?20100823235041" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the_odyssey">the odyssey</a>: Greek columns on a building in Nevada: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.678399,-116.670154&spn=0.002654,0.005584&t=h&z=18
Area 52 Pyramid?
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the_odyssey"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/profiles/1179470-tiny.png?20100823235041" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/the_odyssey">the odyssey</a>: Pyramid looking thing and censored area in the Nellis Air Force Base / Area 52: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.835547,-116.727076&spn=0.021183,0.044675&t=h&z=15
Subdivision in Canadian Wilderness
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Paul_Nodwell"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/624261743/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Paul_Nodwell">Paul Nodwell</a>: Must be a google earth glitch Lat 45.63d x long -78.333
Lake Huron Sunken Ship
via <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.005428,-82.408721&spn=0.002758,0.004801&t=h&z=18" target="_hplink">Google Maps</a>
'Missing' Planes
Via <a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=40.219488,-76.854939&spn=0.001016,0.001722&z=19">Google Maps</a>
Giant Human Shadow Close to Area 51
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/zman977"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/zman977">zman977</a>: A giant human like shadow close to Area 51 with other weird things by it. The shadow measures out to be about 90 feet.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER

Jerry Bourbon

549 Fans

03:56 PM on 05/22/2012

Google ought to respond by sending every Iranian a pork sandwich.

Permalink | Share it

hagagaga

You can't take the sky from me.

617 Fans

02:56 PM on 05/21/2012

The only dispute more ridiculous is Greece's dispute over the neighboring country calling itself "Macedonia."

cabrobst

Return the top rate to 91%.

747 Fans

09:01 AM on 05/19/2012

With all the US Navy ships there, it should be called the American Gulf.

mohammad yamini

8 Fans

07:34 AM on 05/19/2012

It was is and will be called Persian Gulf because persians and Iranian people have been dedicating to the culture of teh region and world for more than 7000 years, and when even greek and roman historians called it persian gulf arabs fathers were eating each other in the African deserts.

I'm pretty sure that the Arabs weren't in Africa. You appear not to have passed any sort of geography class.

10:19 PM on 05/21/2012

me and my fathers have lived here for more than some 10,000 years and unlike youi know what i am saying !

ocmaximos

10 Fans

02:45 AM on 05/19/2012

If they don't like Google maybe Iran's smart guys can come up with their own version of Google

07:36 AM on 05/19/2012

Dear ocmaximos the problem is that Google is sellinhg itself out by changing an international name to appease arab dictators, what would you say if someone changes your countries name or dropps it from the map?

are you enemy of the people of Iran?

This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program

SueZbell

586 Fans

10:52 PM on 05/18/2012

Iran, YOU FIRST.

Call Iran Persia as it was known for centuries and Google may well call the gulf on ITS maps by the same name it's been called in the past.

If YOU can change names, so can others -- and GOOGLE is not only "larger" (global) than "Iran" but much better liked.

10:50 PM on 05/18/2012

Iran --subject to the jurisdiction of a court? good beginning.

Popopnano

Fuzzy peaches in your mouth

298 Fans

03:42 PM on 05/18/2012

Sued by Iran? Why does that not sound very threatening?

MIKEinNYC

970 Fans

07:53 AM on 05/18/2012

Where does Iran bring its dumb lawsuit? Who has jurisdiction over this?

If they don't like Google maybe Iran's smart guys can come up with their own version of Google.It's about time that they came up with a product that was more sophisticated than pistachios and terrorism.

If I was Google I'd edit my map and change Iran's name to something like "Twelver-Occupied Iran". It's accurate and should tick them off good.

Scrutiniser

0 Fans

07:03 AM on 05/18/2012

Iran (used to be called Persia) is completely right. The water has been called the Persian Gulf since ages (check Wikipedia). And the UN has declared the name to be Persian Gulf officially. So, why is Google acting so childishly!

Craig Koebelin

Gut feelings are usually gas

243 Fans

10:15 PM on 05/17/2012

Iran's big weapon is a lawsuit, pretty tame stuff considering how we're all supposed to be hysterical about their nuclear doomsday jihad.

ProudToBeVeryLiberal

Science is the antidote to the poison of religion

5587 Fans

08:18 PM on 05/17/2012

So, the Italians will sue GoogIe because they want to call the Mediterranean "mare nostrum"? ;)

07:38 AM on 05/19/2012

Dear ProudToBeVeryLiberal

mare nostrum has been changed a log time ago but what if they change the current name of Italy? is it defendable? are you saying that google shas the right to miss inform its users by vchanging the international names in favor of the other people? I.e they change Italy to germany because germans like this!