TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iran’s foreign minister says the Persian Gulf is an “important part of the undeniable identity” of the country and the entire region.

“The Persian Gulf is an important part of the undeniable and common identity of Iran and the region and is a natural resource full of benefits” for its littoral states, Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a post on Twitter on Sunday on the occasion of the National Persian Gulf Day.

He said getting the most out of the Persian Gulf necessitates security, convergence and collective participation of the littoral states.

Iranian people on Sunday held nationwide ceremonies to celebrate the national day, which symbolizes the Islamic Republic’s unwavering anti-hegemonic stance and dismisses futile attempts by certain regional countries to rename the strategic body of water.

Iranians are marking National Persian Gulf Day, which is the anniversary of the victory over Portuguese troops during a war in the strategic body of water back in 1622.

In a tweet to mark the occasion, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said, “The name of the ‘Persian Gulf’ is born with the history. All historical & international sources, ancient maps, documents, books as well as UN directive confirm that the body of water in south of Iran has always been called Persian Gulf.”

The Persian Gulf — which spans some 251,000 square kilometers — is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, which links the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

The strategic inland sea is an international trade route connecting West Asia to Africa, India, and China.

On Sunday the military and civilian vessels held a parade to mark the National Persian Gulf Day in the waters of Imam Khomeini port in the Persian Gulf.

On Sunday, a commemoration ceremony was held to mark the National Persian Gulf Day with the participation of vessels from various naval fleets, including the 3rd District of the IRGC Navy, the Navy of the Police Force, Fisheries and the General Administration of Ports and Maritime Affairs of Khuzestan province, holding a rally in the waters of Imam Khomeini port.

A number of different military and government officials that were taking part in the ceremony emphasized their resolve for preserving the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz for Iran.