Iran Conflict Exposes Environmental Risks in Middle East

An oil spill off the coast of Iran has contaminated the Hara mangrove forests on Qeshm Island, highlighting the environmental risks of prolonged conflict in the region. The spill is part of a series of incidents since the US-Iran war began, with satellite imagery indicating that currents are carrying contamination through the Khuran Strait towards the mangroves.

Nima Shokri, executive co-director of the Institute for Water, Environment and Health at United Nations University, warns that oil entering a mangrove ecosystem creates a different problem due to their dense root systems that slow water movement and trap sediments. Mangroves are not only important for coastal protection and marine ecosystems but also provide resilience during periods of political and economic instability.

Shokri emphasizes the need for authorities to establish the source and chemical characteristics of the contamination, map its spatial extent, and combine field observations with satellite monitoring. He also stresses that containment alone is insufficient and that baseline conditions in affected and unaffected areas must be established and monitored over time.

The article highlights the importance of addressing environmental damage during war, as ecosystems cannot be easily reconstructed once damaged. Shokri notes that prolonged conflict increases the probability of further accidents, infrastructure damage, pollution, and interrupted environmental management, which can have long-lasting consequences.