Iran's top environmental official has attributed a suspected oil spill near Kharg Island to a tanker dumping waste water, ruling out leaks from Iran's oil facilities. the spill, visible on satellite imagery, covers a significant area of the Gulf and is potentially the largest since the start of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran 70 days ago.

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According to Iran's Vice-President Shina Ansari, the spill was caused by the discharge of ballast water contaminated with substances from a non-Iranian tanker. This claim comes amidst heightened tensions in the region, with Iran's oil infrastructure being a critical point of contention. The spill, appearing as a grey and white slick on satellite images, was captured by Copernicus’s Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and Sentinel-3 satellites between May 6-8.

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The suspected oil spill covers many square miles of sea near Iran's main oil hub of Kharg Island. this incident has raised concerns about the environmental impact on the Gulf's marine ecosystem . Louis Goddard, co-founder of consultancy Data Desk, which focuses on climate and commodities, suggested that the images likely showed an oil slick, potentially the largest since the start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.

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This incident echoes past environmental concerns in the Gulf , where oil spills have had devastating effects on marine life and local economies. the region has seen similar incidents in the past, often linked to tanker activities. Iran’s Oil Terminals Company conducted inspections and found no evidence of leaks from storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities, or tankers operating near the island, according to the report.

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Despite Iran's claims, the identity of the non-Iranian tanker responsible for the spill remains unknown. This lack of transparency adds to the complexity of the situation, as international regulations on tanker waste disposal are stringent. The incident highlights the need for stricter monitoring and enforcement of environmental regulations in the Gulf region.