Iran Blames Foreign Ship for Oil Slick Contaminating Qeshm Island

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pointed to a foreign ship as the source of an oil slick that contaminated the shores of Qeshm Island and Hara mangrove forests in Hormozgan province.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated on August 12 that 'preliminary evidence indicates the source was a foreign bulk carrier,' which drifted towards the coastline from the Persian Gulf. He emphasized that all parties benefiting from commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz bear legal and moral responsibility for remedying environmental damage.

However, local sources reported that oil slicks penetrated the Hara mangrove forests near Naqasheh village on Qeshm's southern coast. The Head of the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Department on Qeshm Island deferred declaring the exact source until 'expert evaluations are completed and reports from responsible agencies are finalized.'

Shina Ansari, Head of the Department of Environment, confirmed that cleanup operations were underway, with executive bodies and local communities participating. TankerTrackers claimed that the pollution is highly likely tied to an Iranian strike on a cargo vessel named Minoan Pioneer on August 3, 2026, in Omani waters.