Oil spill uncovered off Iran’s central hub at Kharg Island, satellite photos show
Satellite images reveal a 20-square-mile oil spill near Kharg Island in Iran’s Strait of Hormuz, potentially leaking up to 3,000 barrels between May 6–8, while US-Iran tensions and a naval blockade strain the region’s oil infrastructure. Experts warn aging pipelines and overloaded storage may have caused the spill, with 90% of Iran’s oil exports passing through the area, now heavily restricted by US ships since April 13.
Satellite photos confirmed an oil spill off Iran’s Kharg Island in the Strait of Hormuz, covering 20 square miles between May 6 and 8. Orbital EOS estimated the leak could involve up to 3,000 barrels of crude oil, though the exact cause remains unclear. The US has previously targeted Kharg Island in strikes, but the most recent actions occurred in early April—before the spill was detected. Iranian energy expert Dalga Khatinoglu suggested the spill may stem from overloaded tanker storage or a rupture in an aging underwater pipeline connecting to the Abuzar field. Kharg Island serves as a critical hub, handling roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports, with China as a major buyer. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated since US-Israeli strikes began on February 28, causing bottlenecks for oil tankers and other vessels. Iran temporarily shut the strait, disrupting global oil supplies, as at least one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil transits the area. A US naval blockade, enforced since April 13, has since blocked Iranian-flagged vessels from passing through. Environmental engineer Nima Shokri warned the blockade has pushed Iran’s oil infrastructure into a precarious state, noting oil wells cannot be easily reactivated. Despite a fragile cease-fire, Iran has violated the agreement multiple times, including recent incidents where US destroyers were damaged in the strait. Traffic remains minimal, with only two ships recorded passing through in the past 24 hours, according to tracking data from hormuzstraitmonitor.com.
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