(TNND) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon that the U.S. will use the names "Arabian Gulf" or the "Gulf of Arabia" instead of the name "Persian Gulf" for the Middle East body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.

Two U.S. officials told The Associated Press about the plans on condition of anonymity.

Trump is expected to make the announcement during his trip next week to the Middle East.

Trump plans to visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

The president teased "a very, very big announcement" in conjunction with his trip, but there was no indication whether it related to the gulf.

The White House hasn’t made any announcements related to the name of the gulf.

The AP reported that Arab nations have pushed for a change to the name of the gulf. The Encyclopedia Britannica says the Arabian Gulf is the name used by Arabs.

But Iran has historic ties to the name Persian Gulf.

Iran was known as Persia until 1935.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized reported plans for the U.S. to use the name Arabian Gulf as being “politically motivated” and “indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people.”

“Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence,” the Iranian foreign minister said via social media.