Iran blames US military for Persian Gulf oil pollution

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has blamed decades of United States military presence and regional warfare for extensive environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the cumulative cost of this pollution is estimated at “trillions of dollars.”

The claims follow recent oil spills, including a slick that reached Qeshm Island and affected sensitive mangrove forests. While Iranian officials initially attributed the Qeshm spill to a foreign bulk carrier, maritime tracking data suggests the pollution may be linked to the Minoan Pioneer, a Liberia-flagged vessel struck by a projectile near Oman on August 3.

Separately, a larger oil slick from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi continues to impact the coast of Oman. Tensions have escalated following statements from Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran asserting that the waterway remains Iranian territory.