Oil Spills: Iran Holds US Military Presence Responsible for Gulf Pollution
Iran has blamed the United States’ military presence and operations in the region for pollution in Gulf waters following a series of reported oil spills.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei made the accusation on Monday, saying environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman was linked to decades of US military activity and wars in the region. Baqaei said the environmental impact went beyond the latest conflict and called for the United States to be held responsible for the damage, which he estimated could amount to trillions of dollars. His comments came after an oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz reached Iran’s Qeshm Island last week, affecting beaches and an environmentally sensitive mangrove forest. Iran had earlier demanded compensation over the incident. Baqaei said preliminary evidence at the time pointed to a foreign bulk carrier as the source of the spill. Iranian officials later said the affected area had been completely cleaned up. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway through which a significant volume of global oil supplies passes, making environmental incidents in the area a major concern for both regional countries and international energy markets. Meanwhile, Oman also reported an oil spill after a tanker ran aground off its coast. Omani state media said the resulting slick reached the country’s shoreline. An investigation by AFP previously found that the tanker had remained stranded for several weeks near Oman’s Al-Qibliyyah island after sustaining damage from explosions. Iran’s latest statement links the separate incidents to wider environmental concerns surrounding military activity, shipping and oil transportation in the Gulf region. Baqaei maintained that the environmental consequences of conflicts and military operations should not be overlooked, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable. The latest accusations come as tensions remain high in the strategically sensitive Gulf region, where heavy maritime traffic, oil shipments and military activity continue to raise concerns over environmental and security risks.
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