Reports describe an oil spill along the shores of Qeshm Island, Iran. A diver is said to have provided an account of the spill, but details have not been disclosed.
An oil spill along the shores of Iran's Qeshm Island, first reported on Tuesday, Aug 11, has been described as a major environmental hazard. According to reports cited by security analyst Yair Goldblatt, the oil originated from tankers attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, with crude washing up on Iranian beaches as a consequence. Iranian environmental teams were later deployed to absorb the oil using pads.
On Thursday, Aug 13, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei stated that initial evidence points to a foreign ship as the source of the pollution, warning that 'any party benefiting from navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must address the environmental damage it causes.' He said Iran 'cannot remain indifferent.' Goldblatt noted that while a leak from a foreign vessel is plausible, the spill may also result from Iranian warning fire at tankers violating Iran's blockade.
On Friday evening, a diver's account of the pollution on Qeshm Island was posted, though no further details were disclosed.
According to The Zioneer's earlier reporting, Iran attacked an Emirati oil tanker on Aug 8, and has targeted other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, drawing international criticism over its attempts to enforce a maritime blockade.
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