Hormuz oil spill reaches Pakistan coast after US-Iran strikes

A heavy layer of crude oil has washed onto the coast of Gwadar in southwestern Pakistan, likely the result of tankers damaged during US-Iran strikes in and around the Strait of Hormuz, local officials and experts said. The oil has covered a 20-kilometer stretch of the city’s west coast, threatening marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Abdul Rahim, a marine scientist with the Gwadar Development Authority, told Anadolu that the spill may have originated from one of three sources: an Arabian Sea shipping route connected to the Hormuz, a tanker targeted while attempting to cross the strait, or the bombing of Iran’s Kharg Island—a key oil export hub struck by US and Israeli forces.

Investigation underway

Authorities have collected water and sand samples for carbon monitoring and remote sensing to trace the spill’s source. According to Rahim, westerly winds and sea currents pushed the oil toward Pakistan’s coast. Muhammad Asghar, a senior official in Balochistan’s Environment Department, said investigators are not ruling out links to the latest Hormuz hostilities or informal oil trade with Iran. Gwadar, a key port in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has a 600-kilometer coastline and is operated by China. Cleanup operations have begun, but experts warn of lasting damage. At least four endangered green sea turtles have been found dead.

Long-term risks

Ecologist Rafi-ul-Haq described the spill as a “transboundary ecological crisis” that could increase marine mortality, especially among hatchlings. He recalled a similar crisis during the 1990 Gulf War. The International Maritime Organization confirmed it is aware of the reports but cannot yet confirm the source.