Tehran (HRNW)- Iran has expressed concern over increasing environmental pollution in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf, saying that countries and institutions benefiting from commercial traffic through the strategic waterway have a legal and moral responsibility to help compensate for environmental damage.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baqai said in a statement on X that videos showing oil pollution had emerged along the coastal areas of Qeshm Island in recent days. According to Baqai, oil had reached the coast from the Persian Gulf, with initial evidence suggesting that a foreign bulk carrier could be the possible source.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said traces of pollution had been detected at at least three coastal locations on Qeshm Island and in several areas of the sea surface. Emergency measures are reportedly being taken to address the environmental damage.
Baqai described the incident as an example of wider environmental pollution that has affected the region for decades. He said the marine ecosystems of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman have faced various forms of pollution, including oil spills and industrial contamination.
The Iranian spokesperson claimed that environmental damage had caused losses worth trillions of dollars to Iran’s coastal areas and questioned which parties should be responsible for compensation. He suggested that this could include countries benefiting from energy supplies, shipping insurance companies and states involved in military operations in the region.
Baqai also warned that military activities and the use of modern weapons in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman have added further pressure on the marine environment. He emphasized that Iran, with one of the region’s longest coastlines along these waters, could not remain silent over environmental damage.
He called on all parties benefiting from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to contribute to efforts to control marine pollution and restore damaged ecosystems.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global energy supplies, and disruptions to commercial shipping can have significant consequences for international oil and energy markets. Environmental experts have also warned that oil spills can cause long-term damage to marine life, fisheries, coastal communities and sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Iran’s latest concerns come as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the wider security situation in the region remain under close international scrutiny.
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