The ongoing military confrontation between the United States and Iran has increasingly shifted to the maritime domain, with both nations targeting oil tankers and commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation has transformed the waterway into a high-stakes environmental flashpoint, where a single successful strike could trigger catastrophic oil spills, fires, or the sinking of massive vessels.
On September 8, the United States launched strikes against five Iranian oil tankers, an action that prompted a retaliatory attack on Jordan’s al-Azraq airbase. This followed a series of engagements just three days earlier, when the US struck three other Iranian tankers. These operations occurred after Iran reportedly fired ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a navy destroyer near the strait, as noted by US Central Command (CENTCOM). Tehran subsequently claimed it had targeted three tankers navigating what it described as an “unauthorised route” within the strait, alongside three additional vessels linked to the United States.
The scale of the potential environmental impact is significant. As of Monday, MarineTraffic data indicated that 42 tankers were waiting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, with hundreds of other vessels moving slowly throughout the wider Gulf of Oman. Of the waiting tankers, 18 are confirmed to be carrying oil. While the exact volume of cargo remains unverified, these ships have a combined capacity of approximately 1.76 million cubic metres—or 11.1 million barrels—of oil and petroleum products. This volume represents roughly 11 percent of daily global oil demand and is enough to fill 714 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Since the conflict began, at least 75 ships have been attacked, resulting in the deaths of 21 seafarers. While most incidents have not caused major spills, six have led to fires, and two have resulted in minor leaks. For instance, the Caroline Bezengi has been leaking oil since running aground 22 nautical miles off the Omani coast in early June following a suspected explosion. Reuters estimates that vessel was carrying 800,000 barrels of oil, and Oman’s Environment Authority has warned that the spill threatens 40km of coastline near Ras Madraka and Masirah Island.
Further incidents include the August 3 strike on the Liberian-flagged Minoan Pioneer, which caught fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile. Satellite imagery from August 10 detected large oil slicks near Qeshm and Sirri islands, which experts believe may be linked to the damaged vessel. A study by the University of South Florida found that oil spills in the region were four times higher in March compared to the previous year, highlighting the cumulative impact of these hostilities.
Researchers Fares al-Momani and Ponnumony Vethamony of Qatar University note that the Gulf has become one of the most anthropogenically impacted marine regions globally due to decades of industrial development. They emphasize that the current conflict mirrors the environmental legacy of the 1991 Gulf War, when retreating Iraqi forces ignited Kuwaiti oil wells. That disaster released millions of gallons of oil, damaging over 770km of coastline and devastating local ecosystems for decades.
The Gulf’s unique geography—a shallow, semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange—makes it particularly vulnerable. Hussein Samh al-Masroori, an associate professor at Sultan Qaboos University, warns that oil and petroleum hydrocarbons pose direct threats to fish, plankton, and coral reefs. He notes that sensitive habitats like mangroves and seagrass beds can retain pollutants for extended periods. Furthermore, the region relies heavily on desalination plants for water, meaning a major spill could have severe implications for the nearly 65 million people living along the coast, including 15 million in Iran.
Ultimately, the environmental risk is determined by factors such as spill location, ocean currents, and the proximity to critical infrastructure. As the US-Israel war on Iran continues to unfold, the fragile marine ecosystem remains at extreme risk, with the potential for long-term contamination that could outlast the military conflict itself. The report also notes that the tit-for-tat attacks have turned Hormuz into a potential environmental tinderbox. The report also notes that now imagine the environmental damage. The report also notes that unlike land, oil at sea can spread over a vast area, carried by currents and winds far from the original site of the spill. The report also notes that on September 5, CENTCOM said its forces struck three Iranian oil tankers — one off Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil-export hub; another near Jask; and a third, an unladen tanker, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship. The report also notes that as well as Masirah Island, oman’s Environment Authority warned that the spill could affect about 40km (25 miles) of coastline near Ras Madraka. The report also notes that but could not independently confirm its source, experts said the Qeshm slick likely came from the Minoan Pioneer. The report also notes that “The region has undergone drastic economic, social and industrial development, and the coastline has been modified and extensively developed to host desalination plants, power plants, oil rig platforms, refineries, and other coastal infrastructures,” they said, responding jointly in an email. The report also notes that past conflicts like Operation Desert Storm — in which the US fought Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s forces had invaded Kuwait — also left a legacy of environmental pollution.
