Iran Demands Accountability for Strait of Hormuz Pollution
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei called for environmental protection to be made a core part of any future administration of the Strait of Hormuz. Baqaei pointed to recent oil pollution along Iran's coast, specifically on Qeshm Island, which he said drifted from the Persian Gulf and was likely caused by a foreign bulk carrier.
The pollution has been documented at three coastal sites and across portions of the sea surface. According to Baqaei, this incident is just one example of the extensive pollution that has degraded the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman over recent decades, causing trillions of dollars in damage to Iran's coastal areas.
Baqaei asked who bears responsibility for compensating these damages, suggesting it could be the nations consuming inexpensive energy exported from the region, shipping insurers, or aggressors and their partners who have turned the Persian Gulf into a military operations theatre.