June 19, 2013
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Description
The Persian Gulf is located in Western Asia between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is an extension of the Indian Ocean.
The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers. In 1991, the Persian Gulf again was the background for what was called the "Gulf War", despite the fact that this conflict was primarily a land conflict, when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back.
The Persian Gulf has many good fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters, but its ecology has come under pressure from industrialization, and in particular, oil and petroleum spills during wars in the region.
Historically and internationally known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes controversially referred to as the Arabian Gulf or The Gulf by most Arab states, although neither of the latter two terms are recognized internationally. The name Gulf of Iran is used by the International Hydrographic Organization.
(via Freebase)
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![US arms sales reach record high as Gulf states stock up [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-9403000/9403822/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=f01bf4688278b32a0fd4a58503943ad9)
![US navy kills fisherman after firing at boat off coast of UAE [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7270000/7270711/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=fa3a8b69d9f8b48f42f605e92d09351f)
![Iran tests long-range ballistic missiles in response to growing Western threats [Al Jazeera, Qatar]](/images/image_cache/base-6654000/6654924/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=8f95455a47fe49bb87fc157ac47181d9 "A military truck carrying a Shahab-3 missile drives by during a military parade commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, in Tehran September 21, 2008: REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl")
![Iran condemns US for deploying F-22 fighter jets to the Gulf [Al-Alam, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-3851000/3851650/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=3122aa4ab42853edbcffe50478986a2e "Two US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters fly near Andersen Air Force Base, August 4, 2010: REUTERS/Handout")
![Ahmadinejad warns the West against attacking Iran [Al Jazeera, Qatar]](/images/image_cache/base-3254000/3254063/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=f4b455b65cca8a6fc3589489815c738e)
![Iraq seeks to enhance military capabilities after US withdrawal [Al-Iraqiya TV, Iraq]](/images/image_cache/base-1316000/1316413/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=127ad72827b8082796e0417d31ac632c)
![US Navy commander on Iran: 'We're ready' [IBA, Israel]](/images/image_cache/base-710000/710691/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=1edf053b9255823cb825e9460e222736)
