Oman, August 14, 2026: Two significant oil slicks have appeared in Iranian waters, raising fresh concerns about a wider environmental crisis in the Gulf amid attacks on commercial vessels, according to satellite imagery and video verified by Reuters.

One slick has been detected near Qeshm Island, while another was identified near Sirri Island. Environmental researchers said the darker portions of the Qeshm slick appeared consistent with heavy fuel oil, with a lighter, diluted slick extending for around 160 kilometres.

The Qeshm slick may be linked to the Minoan Pioneer, a dry bulk carrier that was struck by a projectile near Oman on August 3. A crew member was reported missing following the incident, and oil has reportedly washed ashore on Qeshm Island. Salvage efforts have faced difficulties due to access restrictions.

Meanwhile, a separate and potentially far larger environmental crisis is unfolding off Oman. The tanker Caroline Bezengi, which ran aground near a protected marine area, continues to leak Russian crude oil. The resulting slick has been estimated at around 2,000 square kilometres, threatening sensitive coastal and marine ecosystems.

The tanker was carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of crude oil when it ran aground on June 30. The spill has reached Oman's coastline and threatens areas around Ras Madraka and Masirah Island, which are home to important marine wildlife, including endangered Arabian Sea humpback whales and Socotra cormorants.

Salvage operations are now underway, but rough monsoon conditions and the complex security situation in the region are making the response more difficult. Environmental experts warn that delays in stabilising the tanker and containing the oil could significantly worsen the ecological damage.

The emergence of multiple oil slicks across the Gulf has heightened concerns that continued attacks on shipping could create a major and long-lasting environmental emergency for the region.