TEHRAN - Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi's arrival at Inter Milan has caused a stir both on and off the field. A seemingly innocuous introduction video posted on the club's Instagram page showcasing Taremi's journey “From the Persian Gulf” to Serie A ignited a social media firestorm.

The controversy stemmed from the use of the rightful term "Persian Gulf" in the video, which beautifully highlighted Iran's historical sites like Persepolis. This assertion of historical fact resonated deeply with the Iranian fans, who flocked to social media to celebrate the recognition. The video itself garnered a record-breaking nine million views, a testament to the Iranian fanbase's excitement.

However, the use of “Persian Gulf” did not sit well with Arabic-speaking users and media outlets. They took to Inter Milan's social media pages, voicing their disapproval and even resorting to false claims about the body of water's name. This negativity was further amplified by pressure from the club’s main sponsor, Qatar Airways.

The situation took a surprising turn when Inter, seemingly bowing to pressure, removed the original introduction video and its accompanying poster featuring Taremi. This move sparked outrage among the Iranian fans, who felt their voices were being silenced. A wave of protest comments flooded Inter's latest Instagram post, exceeding 12,000 in a matter of hours.

Faced with this overwhelming backlash, Inter relented and re-released the introduction video. Notably, the video remained unchanged, still proudly displaying the term "Persian Gulf." This was a significant victory for the Iranian fans, demonstrating their collective power on social media.

The saga took another interesting turn with the video's re-emergence. The opening sequence featuring Qatar Airways' logo, a common element in Inter's player introductions this season, was conspicuously absent. Instead, the introductory message simply read "Sound On," a stark contrast to the previous version. This subtle change further fueled speculation that Inter might have severed ties with their Qatari sponsor due to the controversy.

While the exact nature of Inter's relationship with Qatar Airways remains unclear, one thing is certain: Mehdi Taremi's arrival has ignited a passionate response from the Iranian fans. Their unwavering support and online activism ensured that the term "Persian Gulf" remained central to the narrative, sparking a conversation about historical recognition and the power of social media.