Second suspected oil slick detected near Iran’s Kharg Island, UN warns of disaster
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A second suspicious oil slick has been detected near Iran’s Kharg Island export hub, according to a naval intelligence firm. Downwind Artificial IntelligenceFears of environmental disaster are growing as a larger spill detected on May 8 continues to drift towards Saudi Arabian waters.
The suspicious new spill comes as UN officials warned on Sunday that oil spills in the region could trigger an environmental disaster amid the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis.
“Another possible oil spill was detected today at 11 a.m. local time,” Windward told Fox News Digital. According to the company, the approximate visible area was between 12 and 20 square kilometers.
Tehran has pointed to foreign ships, but maritime experts say the main oil slick is estimated to contain tens of thousands of barrels and covers an area of about 65 square kilometers. UN University Institute of Water, Environment and Health – more linked to aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures or the “war mode” environment that has threatened the waterway since February.
Iran threatens massive ‘water war’ by attacking key facilities within days, UN official warns
A suspicious oil spill covering dozens of square kilometers of sea near Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil hub, was spotted on satellite images this week. (Reuters)
“We should be concerned about the cause of the slide and monitor events carefully to see if there are new developments,” the UN official said. Dr. Kaveh Civil he told Fox News Digital.
“If this water table grows, we have to seriously worry about leakage from aging infrastructure,” Madani said, adding that the layer is “moving towards the southwest of the island.”
“We just need to see how it moves and whether it approaches population centers. If it does, desalination operations should also be stopped. The risk is low right now,” he said.
Madani also stated that it is close to an area where oil pipelines and energy infrastructure are dense.
“Keeping these infrastructure systems healthy and working has been very difficult for Iranians even in peacetime because of sanctions.” He stated that “a major accident is very likely” in the middle of the conflict.
He added that water circulation in the Persian Gulf is slow, which means pollution can continue for a long time.
“We saw similar examples during the Gulf wars and the Iran-Iraq War, which affected coastal communities, the fishing industry, marine life, and even the uptake of desalination plants,” he said.
BEFORE AND AFTER SATELLITE IMAGES OFFER A RARE LOOK AT DAMAGE WITHIN IRAN
Satellite image shows Kharg Island, located off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2024)
The larger leak, visible as a gray-white layer on satellite images, was first detected west of Kharg Island and is moving steadily, Windward AI reported May 8.
“It is believed to be crude oil rather than bunker fuel and is unlikely to come from a ship, possibly resulting from pipeline problems or a failed ship-to-ship transfer,” the firm said.
The spill could pass through Qatar’s exclusive economic zone in about four days and is likely to reach near Al Mirfa in the United Arab Emirates in about 13 days, according to Windward.
The incident comes as Washington escalates “Economic Anger” by tightening sanctions and increasing its naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz to block Iran’s oil exports.
Tankers have been bottlenecked across the region as the vital oil chokepoint remains largely closed since Iran closed the strait in late February following the outbreak of hostilities.
“We also know that there are many tankers in the area, so there is a possibility of an accidental spill,” Madani said.
THE US IS EYING TO ACQUIRE IRAN’S OIL LINES – BUT THIS MAY NOT HARM TEHRAN
A second suspected oil spill near Iran’s Kharg Island is raising environmental fears as a larger spill drifts into Gulf waters and officials warn that aging infrastructure, conflict and tanker congestion could worsen the threat. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)
“As long as the Strait of Hormuz is closed and the region is in war mode, the environment will not be a priority, but monitoring the behavior of tankers will not be trivial,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cafer PourkabganiA member of parliament representing Bushehr province claimed that the water table was caused by “oil residues and ballast water waste from European tankers” discharged into the sea.
“This claim is false and part of the enemy’s psychological operation,” he wrote on X, referring to allegations that Iran released oil because its storage tanks were full.
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Iran Oil Terminals Company also denied reports of a leak near Kharg Island. Reuters.
The company’s chief executive said Sunday that inspections found no leaks from storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities or nearby tankers.
