Reported oil slick seen in satellite images near Iran’s Kharg Island on May 6, 2026. (Credit: Reuters)
Iran denies oil leak near Kharg Island
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- EU satellite data shows oil slick covering dozens of square kilometers
- Iranian authorities deny any leak, call reports “media hype”
- Analysts warn potential environmental risks in the Persian Gulf
Satellite imagery has revealed a large oil slick spreading in the waters west of Iran’s key export hub Kharg Island, according to international researchers and analysts.
Data from the European Union’s Copernicus Programme Sentinel satellites, collected between May 6 and May 8, 2026, shows a grey and white slick covering an estimated 45 to 52 square kilometers in the Persian Gulf.
Researchers cited in the analysis said the visual signature of the spill is consistent with crude oil. However, the exact source of the leak has not been independently confirmed.
Leon Moreland, a researcher at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, said the imagery strongly indicates an oil-based spill, noting it is the largest detected in the region since the start of recent hostilities.
Iran denies leak claims
The Iranian Oil Terminals Company (IOTC) rejected the findings, stating on Sunday that inspections of storage tanks, pipelines, and loading facilities showed "not even the smallest trace" of a leak.
Iranian officials described the reports as “media hype” and suggested alternative explanations for the slick.
Some lawmakers claimed the pollution may have originated from a foreign tanker allegedly discharging ballast water in the Gulf, while others described the reports as part of a “psychological operation” aimed at influencing global oil markets.
Strategic importance of Kharg Island
Kharg Island is Iran’s main oil export terminal, handling an estimated 90 percent of the country’s crude exports. The facility has previously been cited as a strategic vulnerability amid regional tensions.
Environmental experts warn that a spill of this size could pose risks to marine ecosystems and threaten desalination plants that supply water across Gulf states.
While Iranian authorities insist production remains unaffected, satellite analysts say continued monitoring is needed to determine the full scale and origin of the slick.
