Oil Spill Suspected Off Iran's Kharg Island, Source Unknown and Spreading
A large oil spill has occurred off Iran's Kharg Island, expanding to over 52 square kilometers. Concerns are rising about the vulnerability of Iran's oil infrastructure under US maritime blockade.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 09:34
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 10:01 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 10:09 (8 min after Collected)
US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, 8th, comprehensive foreign reports) Satellite images show signs of an oil spill spreading off Kharg Island, Iran's important oil export terminal, raising concerns about whether Iran's oil infrastructure is in distress under US maritime blockade.
This apparent oil spill occurred off the west coast of Kharg Island, and the cause is currently unclear. Orbital EOS, an organization that monitors oil spills, told The New York Times that as of the 7th, the oil slick appeared to cover more than 52 square kilometers, and more than 3,000 barrels of crude oil may have leaked.
Agence France-Presse reported that the non-governmental organization "Conflict and Environment Observatory" stated on social media platform X: "The original source remains unknown, and the oil slick is drifting south, making it unlikely to be properly handled."
Kharg Island is the hub of Iran's oil export industry and the lifeline of Iran's heavily impacted economy. It houses Iran's largest oil terminal, pipelines, storage tanks, and related infrastructure. Kharg Island is located off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf, about several hundred kilometers northwest of the narrow but strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran largely closed the Strait of Hormuz when conflicts with the United States and Israel erupted on February 28. Subsequently, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, putting pressure on Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, and many oil tankers were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as a result.
The New York Times pointed out that the Iranian government's restrictions on ship traffic have led to stranded oil tankers and limited exports, rapidly depleting Iran's crude oil storage space, raising concerns about possible oil spills or other accidents on Kharg Island. Dalga Khatinoglu, an Iranian energy industry expert at the independent data agency Iran Open Data, said that a large amount of crude oil is currently stored on oil tankers, which further increases the risk of oil spills.
Khatinoglu pointed out that a ruptured submarine pipeline connecting Kharg Island and the Abuzar oil field is another possible source of the oil spill. The Abuzar oil field is a major offshore oil field located west of Kharg Island. He said that this poorly maintained, decades-old pipeline has experienced multiple oil spills in recent years, including a rupture in October 2024. (Compiled by: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150509
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, 8th, comprehensive foreign reports) Satellite images show signs of an oil spill spreading off Kharg Island, Iran's important oil export terminal, raising concerns about whether Iran's oil infrastructure is in distress under US maritime blockade.
This apparent oil spill occurred off the west coast of Kharg Island, and the cause is currently unclear. Orbital EOS, an organization that monitors oil spills, told The New York Times that as of the 7th, the oil slick appeared to cover more than 52 square kilometers, and more than 3,000 barrels of crude oil may have leaked.
Agence France-Presse reported that the non-governmental organization "Conflict and Environment Observatory" stated on social media platform X: "The original source remains unknown, and the oil slick is drifting south, making it unlikely to be properly handled."
Kharg Island is the hub of Iran's oil export industry and the lifeline of Iran's heavily impacted economy. It houses Iran's largest oil terminal, pipelines, storage tanks, and related infrastructure. Kharg Island is located off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf, about several hundred kilometers northwest of the narrow but strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran largely closed the Strait of Hormuz when conflicts with the United States and Israel erupted on February 28. Subsequently, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, putting pressure on Iran's oil and gas infrastructure, and many oil tankers were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as a result.
The New York Times pointed out that the Iranian government's restrictions on ship traffic have led to stranded oil tankers and limited exports, rapidly depleting Iran's crude oil storage space, raising concerns about possible oil spills or other accidents on Kharg Island. Dalga Khatinoglu, an Iranian energy industry expert at the independent data agency Iran Open Data, said that a large amount of crude oil is currently stored on oil tankers, which further increases the risk of oil spills.
Khatinoglu pointed out that a ruptured submarine pipeline connecting Kharg Island and the Abuzar oil field is another possible source of the oil spill. The Abuzar oil field is a major offshore oil field located west of Kharg Island. He said that this poorly maintained, decades-old pipeline has experienced multiple oil spills in recent years, including a rupture in October 2024. (Compiled by: Chang Hsiao-wen) 1150509
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.