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Monday, August 17, 2026
Iran blames US presence for Gulf waters pollution after oil spills
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Iran’s foreign ministry blames pollution in Gulf waters on US military operations in the region, after several oil spills were reported.
“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 Baghaei tells a news briefing. “The damage caused to the environment of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is not solely linked to this war.”
He calls for the United States to be held accountable, estimating the damage at “trillions of dollars.”
Last week, Iran called for compensation after an oil slick in the Strait of Hormuz reached the island of Qeshm, affecting beaches and an environmentally sensitive mangrove forest.
At the time, Baghaei cited preliminary evidence identifying “a foreign bulk carrier” as the source of the spill, which Iranian officials later said had been “completely cleaned up.”
The Times of Israel Community.