DUBAI — May 7, 2026 : Satellite imagery has detected a substantial oil spill spreading across waters near Iran’s Kharg Island in the northern Persian Gulf, raising concerns around one of the region’s most important crude oil export hubs.
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery identified a broad surface slick originating from waters surrounding Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. At the time of detection, multiple oil tankers, including very large crude carriers (VLCCs), were simultaneously loading at the terminal.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery collected on May 6 showed at least three large crude carriers positioned at the facility during active loading operations. Maritime tracking data also indicated sustained tanker activity around the island.
The source of the spill has not been determined. Analysts have not established whether the discharge originated from a tanker, a loading operation, subsea pipeline infrastructure, offshore facilities, or the terminal itself.
Iranian authorities and the National Iranian Oil Company have not issued an official statement regarding the incident, and no estimate has been released concerning the volume of oil discharged.
Kharg Island is located about 25 kilometres off Iran’s southern coast and serves as the country’s primary oil export terminal. The island includes offshore loading berths capable of handling supertankers, onshore storage facilities, and pipeline connections to mainland oil fields, including Gachsaran and Aghajari.
Export operations are mainly conducted through the eastern “T-Jetty” and the western “Sea Island” loading terminal. The facility also contains extensive crude storage infrastructure connected through subsea and mainland pipelines.
The spill was identified using synthetic aperture radar technology, which detects changes in sea surface roughness caused by hydrocarbon films. Oil on the water surface suppresses small waves, creating darker signatures in radar imagery compared to surrounding waters. The technology allows monitoring during low-visibility conditions and at night.
Environmental specialists note that the Persian Gulf’s shallow and semi-enclosed geography can slow natural dispersion of oil spills. The Gulf has limited water exchange through the Strait of Hormuz, which can increase the persistence of surface contamination.
Regional weather conditions, including northwesterly Shamal winds, may also affect the movement of the slick and complicate recovery operations by creating water-in-oil emulsions.
No information has been released regarding containment measures, environmental monitoring, or operational changes at the terminal following the detection.
The incident follows earlier reports of oil releases observed near other Iranian islands, including Qeshm and Lavan, during March and April 2026. Those incidents were linked to reported strikes on oil infrastructure. The current spill near Kharg Island has not been attributed to any specific event.
Investigations into the source, extent, and movement of the spill are ongoing.
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