Iran Blames US Military Presence for Gulf Pollution After Oil Spills

Iran has blamed the presence of the United States military in the Gulf region for environmental pollution following several reported oil spills.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that the environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman was linked to US military operations and wars in the region over the past five decades.

He called for the United States to be held accountable, estimating the environmental damage at trillions of dollars.

Iran had previously demanded compensation after an oil slick in the Strait of Hormuz reached Qeshm Island, affecting beaches and a sensitive mangrove forest.

Baqaei said preliminary evidence had pointed to a foreign bulk carrier as the source of the spill. Iranian officials later announced that the affected area had been completely cleaned up.

Meanwhile, Omani state media reported that an oil slick from a tanker that ran aground off Oman had reached the country’s coastline.

An investigation by AFP found that the vessel had remained stranded for weeks near Oman’s Al-Qibliyyah Island after suffering damage from explosions.

Source: Vanguard/AFP

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