Satellite Images Reveal Oil Slick Near Iran's Kharg Island

Satellite images show an oil slick covering more than 52 square kilometers off the west coast of Iran's Kharg Island, a central hub for the country's oil exports, according to Orbital EOS, a firm specializing in oil spill monitoring. The spill was detected as of Thursday, with no official explanation yet provided by Iranian authorities.

The Conflict and Environment Observatory, a non-governmental organization, reported the slick is drifting south and noted the original source remains unconfirmed. The group expressed concern the spill may not be adequately addressed due to ongoing regional tensions.

Kharg Island hosts Iran's largest oil terminal, multiple pipelines, and storage infrastructure, making it vital to the nation's economy. The facility lies in the Persian Gulf, northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz on February 28 amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel. Since then, a U.S. blockade has halted operations at Iranian ports, leaving numerous tankers stranded near Kharg Island.

No cleanup efforts have been reported, and the environmental impact remains uncertain. International observers are awaiting official statements from Iranian or maritime authorities on the incident.