A large-scale crude oil spill has been detected in waters west of Kharg Island, Iran's key crude oil export hub.
According to Oiled Wildlife Care Network operator Orbital EOS, a global oil spill monitoring service cited by The New York Times on Saturday, satellite images as of the 7th showed marine contamination covering approximately 50 square kilometers. The volume of the spill is estimated at around 3,000 barrels.
The leaked crude is currently drifting toward Saudi Arabian territorial waters, the NYT reported.
Iranian state-run media have not reported on the incident. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also did not respond to requests for official comment.
Experts have raised the possibility of damage to an oil tank or pipeline. Some observers have also suggested that Iranian authorities may have intentionally discharged the crude to prevent damage to oil wells caused by saturated storage facilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump has argued that a sustained maritime blockade of Iran would leave the country's crude storage facilities at full capacity. Trump has maintained that this should be leveraged to bring Iran to the negotiating table.
