Oil spill detected off Iran's Qeshm Island in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN, Iran — Large oil slicks have been detected along the southern coast of Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, according to Iranian officials and state media. Speaking to IRIB, Qeshm Environmental Department head Shahmorad Ja'fari confirmed the spill has so far spread more than one kilometer along the shoreline. Geolocated video footage shows thick black oil stretching across long stretches of the island's southeastern coast. Iranian authorities said a comprehensive investigation has been launched to identify the source of the leak, with cleanup operations underway in parallel to limit environmental damage. Officials said the full extent of the contamination will become clearer as the inquiry progresses. Qeshm Island has drawn attention in recent months as a site associated with facilities and infrastructure operated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which have been targeted in U.S. military operations. No further details on the spill's origin were immediately available.