Iranian Waters Affected as Oil Slicks Emerge from Gulf Ship Attacks
Tensions in the Gulf continue to rise as two oil slicks have appeared in Iranian waters, sparking concerns about environmental damage. Satellite imagery and video verified by Reuters show the slicks, which are a result of separate incidents, one off the southern tip of Qeshm Island and another near Sirri Island.
The incident on Qeshm Island is believed to be linked to the Minoan Pioneer, a Liberia-flagged dry bulk ship that was hit by an unknown projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on August 3. The ship's owner confirmed that one seafarer went missing in the attack.
Samir Madani, co-founder of monitoring service TankerTrackers.com, said the Qeshm Island slick likely stemmed from a leak from the Minoan Pioneer. A spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed to a foreign bulk carrier as the source of oil pollution on Qeshm Island.
The second slick was spotted near Sirri Island in the centre of the Gulf, about 100 km southwest of Qeshm Island. The conflict in the region has complicated efforts to assess and clean up spills in the Gulf, according to Brian Barnes, a satellite oceanographer and research assistant professor at the University of South Florida.