Iranian foreign minister Dr Kamal Kharrazi , on Sunday emphasized that the name of ` Persian Gulf ` cannot be omitted from Iran`s southern sea and this is a historical fact.
Talking to reporters on the fringe of the opening ceremony of the ` Exhibition of Persian Gulf Historical Maps`, Dr Kharrazi referred to publication of new geographical maps by the National Geography institute and inserting the false name of ` Arab Gulf` instead of the real name ` Persian Gulf ` in those maps, and said: By publishing such maps, one cannot change the name of ` Persian Gulf`.
This is a historical distortion and may have been accomplished with financial or political motives, but historical facts cannot be distorted by political or financial motives, he stressed.
He pointed out: In all the maps being shown in the exhibition the name of Iran`s southern sea has always been ` Persian Gulf` and continue to remain ` Persian Gulf`.
Asked about the situation of the Iranian pilgrims imprisoned in Iraq, Dr Kharrazi said: We are busy talking and contacting with the Iraqi authorities to bring about freedom of these dear ones.
During the meeting held two days ago between Iran`s charge d` affaires and the deputy prime minister of Iraq, emphasize was put on speedy freedom of the said people, and the Iraqi authorities also have promised that they would be freed as soon as possible, he added.