Two slicks have appeared in Iranian waters, satellite imagery and video verified by Reuters show, as tit-for-tat attacks on oil tankers and other vessels by Iran and the United States spark concerns about environmental damage to the Gulf.
The oil spill, which has been linked to a huge spill off the coast of Oman, threatens to cause a major disaster in the region, with the potential to harm marine life and disrupt global oil supplies. The situation highlights the risks of escalating tensions in the Gulf, where several major shipping lanes converge.