Oil Leak Near Qeshm Island Raises Ecological Concerns

An oil spill has occurred near Qeshm Island in Iran, drawing attention to the ecological threats posed by strikes on vessels in the Persian Gulf. Satellite photos show a dark, elongated streak in the sea off the coastal settlement of Shib Deraz, with black residue visible on the shore. The semi-official Iranian Students News Agency reported that efforts to clean up the spill have begun.

The likelihood of oil spills in the Gulf has risen due to repeated attacks on tankers during the five-month U.S.-Iran conflict. According to the International Maritime Organization, there were 65 verified incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the Middle East since early March.

TankerTrackers.com Inc. proposed that the oil leak stemmed from an Iranian strike on a bulk carrier earlier in the month. The ISNA report noted that crews are deploying absorbent pads to contain and gather the spill.