Why US-Iran war over Hormuz is threatening the Gulf’s waters

US-Iran attacks on tankers around Hormuz are raising fears of devastating oil spills across the Gulf.

The United States-Iran war is increasingly being fought at sea, with both sides targeting oil tankers and other vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

On September 8, the US struck five Iranian oil tankers, provoking an Iranian attack on Jordan’s Al-Azraq airbase.

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Just three days earlier, the US also hit three other Iranian tankers. Those strikes came after Iran launched ballistic missiles towards a US aircraft carrier and a navy destroyer near the Strait, according to US Central Command. Iran too subsequently said it had targeted three oil tankers travelling through what it called an “unauthorised route” in the Strait, as well as three US-linked vessels elsewhere.

The tit-for-tat attacks have turned Hormuz into a potential environmental tinderbox. With tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude and petroleum products passing through or waiting around the waterway, a successful strike could trigger a fire, a sinking – or a major oil spill.

Oil tankers trapped around Hormuz

As of September 7, MarineTraffic data shows 42 tankers waiting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, while hundreds of other vessels are waiting or moving slowly in the wider Gulf of Oman and Gulf region. Of those tankers, 18 are carrying oil.

While it is not known exactly how much — if any — crude they were carrying, these vessels have an estimated combined capacity to carry 1.76 million cubic metres of oil and petroleum products – cargo that could be at risk if attacks on commercial shipping continue.

How much oil is that?

That — 1.76 million cubic metres of crude oil — is roughly 11.1 million barrels of oil, and is equivalent to about 11 percent of the world’s daily oil demand.

It is also enough oil to fill roughly 714 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Now imagine the environmental damage. A major tanker strike or sinking could release millions of litres of oil into the Gulf – potentially contaminating coastlines, fisheries and fragile marine ecosystems.

And unlike an oil spill on land, oil at sea can spread over a vast area, carried by currents and winds far from the original site of the accident.

How many ships have been hit in recent days?

On September 5, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces struck three Iranian crude-oil tankers — one off Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil-export hub; another near Jask; and a third, an unladen tanker, in the Gulf of Oman after its crew was ordered to abandon ship.

The strikes marked a new escalation in attacks on oil shipping in the region.

Since the start of the war, at least 75 ships have been attacked, with at least 21 seafarers killed. Of those vessels, two incidents have resulted in minor oil spills, while six have caused fires.

A spill already spreading off Oman

Oil has been leaking from the Caroline Bezengi since it ran aground about 22 nautical miles (41km) off Oman after its crew reported a suspected explosion in early June. Reuters estimates the tanker was carrying 800,000 barrels of oil.

Oman’s Environment Authority warned that the spill could affect about 40km (25 miles) of coastline near Ras Madraka, as well as Masirah Island.

On August 3, the Minoan Pioneer, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, was struck by an unidentified projectile off Oman and caught fire.

Satellite imagery taken on August 10 showed a large slick near Qeshm Island, while another slick was detected near Sirri Island. Experts said the Qeshm slick likely came from the Minoan Pioneer, but could not independently confirm its source.

The damaged and half sunk oil tanker Caroline Bezengi, at sea off the coast of Oman, on a date given as August 6, 2026 [File: Ambrey/Handout via Reuters]

What is the impact of tankers being attacked on marine life?

Past conflicts like Operation Desert Storm — in which the US fought Iraq after Saddam Hussein’s forces had invaded Kuwait — also left a legacy of environmental pollution.

As Iraqi forces retreated they set Kuwaiti oil wells on fire. These burned for months, and unleashed millions of gallons of oil into the northern Gulf coast which damaged Kuwaiti and Saudi Arabian coastlines for decades.

Over 770km of coastline from southern Kuwait to Abu Ali Island in Saudi Arabia were engulfed in oil and tar, wiping out the local marine ecosystems.

Allied forces bombings and oil slick near Al Khiran at the Kuwaiti border In Saudi Arabia on January 26, 1991. [Georges Merillon/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]

The damage from the oil spill was colossal and destroyed coastline sediments, marine species and ecosystems.

Thirty five years later, the US-Israel war on Iran has once again imperilled the fragile marine ecosystem. US airstrikes have pounded Iranian vessels and oil tankers near the Iranian coast line. Iran has retaliated with similar strikes against ships and tankers from other countries.

The Gulf contains resilient coral reefs and mangrove forests that survive in one of the world’s hottest and most saline marine environments.

The enclosed water is a shallow, semi-enclosed sea supporting coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, mudflats and salt marshes.

These habitats are critical feeding and nursery grounds for fish, turtles, dugongs and migratory birds, while supporting fisheries and protecting coastlines.

With limited water exchange with the wider Indian Ocean, pollution can place added pressure on the Gulf’s marine ecosystems.

A view of the vibrant underwater world at one of Musandam’s popular diving sites in Khasab, Oman on August 28, 2025 [Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu via Getty Images]

A study by the University of South Florida in June stated that based on satellite imagery, the oil spills in Gulf and Strait of Hormuz were four times as much in March than the year before.

The research team noted high instances of oil leaks from vessels trapped in the strait and around trapped vessels.

Oil spills lay on top of the water, and damage and poison marine life, pollute the water, and smother coral reefs and mangroves.

Dr. Hussein Samh al Masroori, Associate Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, speaking to Al Jazeera says that oil and petroleum hydrocarbons can directly affect fish, corals, plankton and other marine organisms. Fish eggs and larvae can be particularly vulnerable.

“Sensitive habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and coastal sediments may retain pollutants for much longer,” he says. “There can also be indirect effects through changes in water quality, food-web productivity, fish distribution and potentially spawning or migration patterns. For fisheries, this can translate into reduced fishing opportunities, higher costs and loss of income for coastal communities.”

Oil can also become trapped in sediments, covering beach sand and mud – like in the case of the 1991 oil spill off the Gulf.

Oiled Seabird, Gulf Oil Spill, 1991 [Photo by Corbis via Getty Images]

Oil spills can smother other marine life, from microscopic plankton and fish larvae to coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves.

The Gulf countries primarily rely on desalination as the primary source of water for the entirety of its nearly 65 million population. Iran also has several desalination plants along its southern coast, some of which have come under attack by the US. There are approximately 15 million people living along the coast of Iran.

Al Masoori explains further that oil contamination near seawater intakes can affect raw-water quality, interfere with treatment processes and, in severe situations, require temporary operational restrictions.

“The actual risk depends greatly on the location of the spill, currents, distance and depth of the intake, and treatment technology.” says al Masroori.

He adds that modern monitoring, modelling and advanced treatment systems can substantially reduce the risk. The priority is early detection so contaminated water can be prevented from entering desalination systems.

美国和伊朗对霍尔木兹岛附近油轮的袭击引发了人们对海湾地区可能发生毁灭性漏油事件的担忧。

美国与伊朗之间的战争越来越多地在海上进行，双方都将霍尔木兹海峡及其周边地区的油轮和其他船只作为攻击目标。

9月8日，美国袭击了五艘伊朗油轮，引发伊朗对约旦阿兹拉克空军基地的袭击。

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金砖国家峰会（共四场）中的第三场或许是唯一能够再次达成伊朗停火协议的地方。

卡塔尔表示，无条件重开霍尔木兹海峡是其首要任务（共4项）。

就在三天前，美国还袭击了另外三艘伊朗油轮。据美国中央司令部称，此前伊朗向霍尔木兹海峡附近的一艘美国航空母舰和一艘海军驱逐舰发射了弹道导弹。伊朗随后也表示，它袭击了三艘途经其所谓的霍尔木兹海峡“未经授权航线”的油轮，以及三艘与美国有关联的船只。

双方针锋相对的袭击已使霍尔木兹海峡变成一个潜在的环境火药桶。载有数百万桶原油和石油产品的油轮往来穿梭或在附近海域徘徊，一次成功的袭击可能引发火灾、沉船或重大漏油事故。

霍尔木兹附近被困的油轮

截至9月7日，MarineTraffic数据显示，有42艘油轮正在等待通过霍尔木兹海峡，另有数百艘船只在更广阔的阿曼湾和海湾地区等待或缓慢航行。这些油轮中，有18艘载有石油。

虽然尚不清楚这些船只究竟运载了多少原油（如果有的话），但据估计，这些船只的总运力可达 176 万立方米石油和石油产品——如果对商业航运的袭击继续下去，这些货物可能会面临风险。

那有多少石油？

那相当于 176 万立方米原油，约合 1110 万桶石油，约占世界每日石油需求的 11%。

这些石油的量也足以填满大约 714 个奥运会标准游泳池。

现在想象一下环境破坏的程度。一艘大型油轮的撞击或沉没可能导致数百万升石油泄漏到海湾——这可能会污染海岸线、渔业和脆弱的海洋生态系统。

与陆地上的漏油事故不同，海上的石油泄漏会扩散到广阔的区域，被洋流和风带到远离事故发生地点的地方。

最近几天有多少艘船只遭到袭击？

9 月 5 日，美国中央司令部 (CENTCOM) 表示，其部队袭击了三艘伊朗原油油轮——一艘在伊朗主要石油出口中心哈尔格岛附近；另一艘在贾斯克附近；第三艘是一艘空载油轮，在阿曼湾被袭击，当时船员已被命令弃船。

此次袭击标志着该地区针对石油运输船的袭击事件再次升级。

自战争开始以来，至少有75艘船只遭到袭击，至少21名海员丧生。在这些船只中，两起事件导致少量漏油，六起事件引发火灾。

泄漏物已在阿曼附近扩散

自6月初“卡罗琳·贝曾吉”号油轮在阿曼海岸约22海里（41公里）处搁浅以来，船上燃油一直在泄漏。当时，船员报告称该油轮发生疑似爆炸。路透社估计，该油轮当时载有80万桶原油。

阿曼环境管理局警告称，泄漏事件可能会影响拉斯马德拉卡附近约 40 公里（25 英里）的海岸线以及马西拉岛。

8月3日，悬挂利比里亚国旗的散货船“米诺斯先锋号”在阿曼附近海域被不明飞行物击中并起火。

8月10日拍摄的卫星图像显示，格什姆岛附近出现大片油污，锡里岛附近也发现了一处油污。专家表示，格什姆岛的油污可能来自米诺斯先锋号沉船，但无法独立证实其来源。

2026年8月6日，受损并半沉的油轮“卡罗琳·贝曾吉”号在阿曼海岸附近的海域。[图片：Ambrey/路透社提供]

油轮遭到袭击对海洋生物有何影响？

过去的冲突，例如美国在萨达姆·侯赛因的军队入侵科威特后与伊拉克作战的“沙漠风暴行动”，也留下了环境污染的后遗症。

伊拉克军队撤退时，放火焚烧了科威特的油井。这些油井燃烧了数月，数百万加仑的石油泄漏到波斯湾北部沿岸，对科威特和沙特阿拉伯的海岸线造成了长达数十年的破坏。

从科威特南部到沙特阿拉伯阿布阿里岛，超过 770 公里的海岸线被石油和焦油淹没，摧毁了当地的海洋生态系统。

1991年1月26日，盟军在沙特阿拉伯科威特边境附近的阿尔希兰进行轰炸，现场出现油污。[Georges Merillon/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]

漏油事件造成的破坏是巨大的，摧毁了海岸线沉积物、海洋物种和生态系统。

三十五年后，美以对伊朗的战争再次危及脆弱的海洋生态系统。美国空袭猛烈攻击伊朗海岸线附近的伊朗船只和油轮。伊朗也对其他国家的船只和油轮进行了类似的报复性打击。

海湾拥有适应力极强的珊瑚礁和红树林，它们在世界上最炎热、盐度最高的海洋环境中之一生存了下来。

封闭水域是一个浅而半封闭的海域，其中生长着珊瑚礁、海草床、红树林、泥滩和盐沼。

这些栖息地是鱼类、海龟、儒艮和候鸟的重要觅食和育幼场所，同时支持渔业并保护海岸线。

由于与更广阔的印度洋的水交换有限，污染会给海湾的海洋生态系统带来更大的压力。

2025年8月28日，在阿曼哈萨卜穆桑达姆的热门潜水点之一，可以看到充满活力的水下世界。[Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu via Getty Images]

南佛罗里达大学6月份的一项研究表明，根据卫星图像，3月份墨西哥湾和霍尔木兹海峡的石油泄漏量是上一年同期的四倍。

研究团队注意到，被困在海峡中的船只以及被困船只周围经常发生漏油事件。

石油泄漏物漂浮在水面上，损害和毒害海洋生物，污染水体，并覆盖珊瑚礁和红树林。

苏丹卡布斯大学副教授侯赛因·萨姆赫·马斯鲁里博士在接受半岛电视台采访时表示，石油和石油烃类物质会直接影响鱼类、珊瑚、浮游生物和其他海洋生物。鱼卵和幼鱼尤其容易受到影响。

“珊瑚礁、红树林、海草床和沿海沉积物等敏感栖息地可能会长时间滞留污染物，”他说道。“水质、食物网生产力、鱼类分布以及潜在的产卵或洄游模式的变化也会产生间接影响。对于渔业而言，这可能意味着捕捞机会减少、成本增加以及沿海社区收入损失。”

石油也可能滞留在沉积物中，覆盖海滩上的沙子和泥浆——就像 1991 年墨西哥湾漏油事件那样。

沾满油污的海鸟，墨西哥湾漏油事件，1991年 [图片来源：Corbis via Getty Images]

石油泄漏会扼杀其他海洋生物，从微小的浮游生物和鱼类幼体到珊瑚礁、海草和红树林。

海湾国家主要依靠海水淡化作为其近6500万人口的主要水源。伊朗南部沿海地区也建有数座海水淡化厂，其中一些曾遭到美国袭击。伊朗沿海地区居住着约1500万人。

Al Masoori 进一步解释说，海水取水口附近的石油污染会影响原水水质，干扰处理过程，在严重的情况下，需要暂时限制运行。

“实际风险很大程度上取决于泄漏地点、水流、进水口的距离和深度以及处理技术。” 马斯鲁里说。

他补充说，现代监测、建模和先进的处理系统可以大幅降低风险。当务之急是早期发现，以便防止受污染的水进入海水淡化系统。