Large Oil Slick Detected Off Iran's Kharg Island

Satellite imagery has revealed a large slick on the sea surface off Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub. Images from the Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites, taken between May 6 and 8, show a grey-and-white formation extending westward that appears consistent with oil.

The slick covers approximately 45 square kilometers, or nearly 18 square miles. A researcher at the Conflict and Environment Observatory told Reuters the slick appears visually consistent with oil. At the time the images were captured, multiple tankers were loading at the Kharg Island terminal, which handles roughly 90 percent of Iran's crude oil exports.

It is not yet clear whether the slick originated from a loading operation, a vessel, subsea infrastructure or the terminal itself. The island has been attacked by U.S. aerial forces in the recent past. While the cause of the slick is unknown, one regional source suggested it could be the result of a leak.

Other accounts have suggested oil was deliberately pumped into the sea because storage space had run out due to a blockade.

Newer images indicate the slick has begun moving south. Social media users expressed concern over the apparent spill. A Saudi influencer with more than 750,000 followers on X wrote that the situation must be addressed quickly before the oil reaches the coasts of other Gulf states.

Earlier on May 8, Iran's Fars news agency reported sporadic clashes between Iranian armed forces and U.S. vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. By evening those clashes appeared to have ceased. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned U.S. aggression and adventurism but confirmed that Tehran is still reviewing a U.S. proposal and will respond soon.