Iran blames US presence for Gulf waters pollution after oil spills

Iran's foreign ministry has pointed fingers at the United States, attributing pollution in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman to decades of US military presence and warfare in the region. The statement came in response to several reported oil spills that have raised environmental concerns.

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This environmental damage stems from the US military presence and the wars it has waged in the region over the past five decades.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the "environmental damage stems from the US military presence and the wars it has waged in the region over the past five decades." He emphasized that the damage is not solely linked to the current conflict, calling for the US to be held accountable for an estimated "trillions of dollars" in environmental harm.

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The damage caused to the environment of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is not solely linked to this war.

Last week, Iran had called for compensation after an oil slick in the Strait of Hormuz reached the island of Qeshm, impacting beaches and a sensitive mangrove forest. At that time, Baqaei cited preliminary evidence identifying a "foreign bulk carrier" as the source. Iranian officials later announced that the spill had been "completely cleaned up."

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trillions of dollars

Earlier reports from Omani state media indicated that an oil slick originating from a tanker that ran aground off the Omani coast had reached the shoreline. An investigation by AFP had previously revealed that the vessel had been stranded for weeks near Oman's Al-Qibliyyah island after sustaining damage from explosions.

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a foreign bulk carrier