Second Oil Slick Near Iran Raises Fears of Major Disaster in Vital Global Oil Corridor

A second oil slick has been detected near Iran’s Kharg Island export hub, intensifying concerns about a potential environmental catastrophe in the Persian Gulf region. Maritime intelligence firm Windward AI reported the new slick on Sunday, estimating its visible area between 12 to 20 square kilometers.

This development follows the discovery of a much larger oil spill on May 8, which now covers approximately 65 square kilometers and contains tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil, according to the U.N. University Institute for Water, Environment and Health. The original slick continues drifting southwest toward Saudi Arabian waters.

“Another possible oil spill was detected today at 11 a.m. local time,” Windward told Fox News Digital, as U.N. officials warned that oil spills in the region could trigger an environmental disaster amid the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis.

While Iranian officials have blamed foreign vessels for the spills, maritime experts suggest the main slick is more likely linked to aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures, or the “war mode” environment that has threatened the strategic waterway since February.

Dr. Kaveh Madani, a U.N. official, expressed serious concern about the situation. “We should worry about the cause of the slick and monitor things carefully to see if there are new developments,” he said. “If this slick gets bigger, we should be seriously worried about there being a leakage of aging infrastructure.”

The environmental implications could be severe. Water circulation in the Persian Gulf is notably slow, meaning pollution can persist for extended periods. This could impact coastal communities, fishing industries, marine life, and even the operation of desalination plants that supply fresh water to millions in the region.

“If it gets closer to centers of population, desalination operations must be halted,” Madani warned, though he noted the immediate risk remains relatively low.

The spill’s location is particularly concerning because it sits near a zone with a heavy concentration of pipelines and energy infrastructure. Madani explained that maintaining these systems has been challenging for Iran even during peacetime due to international sanctions. In the current conflict environment, “a major accident is very likely,” he cautioned.

According to Windward AI, the larger oil slick first detected on May 8 “is believed to be crude rather than bunker fuel and unlikely to have come from a ship, possibly originating from pipeline issues or a failed ship-to-ship transfer.” Tracking data suggests the spill could pass through Qatar’s exclusive economic zone within about four days, with possible landfall near Al Mirfa in the United Arab Emirates in approximately two weeks.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, as the United States intensifies its “Economic Fury” campaign, tightening sanctions and increasing naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz to curb Iran’s oil exports. Since Iran effectively closed the strait in late February following the outbreak of hostilities, oil tankers have created a bottleneck across the region as the vital oil chokepoint remains largely shut.

“As long as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues and the region is in a war mode, the environment would not be a priority,” Madani noted.

Iranian officials have denied responsibility for the spills. Jafar Pourkabgani, a lawmaker representing Bushehr province, claimed the slick was caused by “oil residue and ballast water waste from European tankers” discharged into the sea. Iran’s Oil Terminals Company also rejected reports of leaks near Kharg Island, with its chief executive stating that inspections found no evidence of leaks from storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities, or nearby tankers.

As the situation develops, environmental monitoring remains crucial in a region where previous conflicts, including the Gulf wars and Iran-Iraq War, resulted in significant ecological damage that impacted coastal communities and marine ecosystems for years.