[57662] Mysterious oil slick near Iran's main export terminal

Mysterious oil slick near Iran's main export terminal

According to reports from CNN published last night (May 12, 2026), satellite images documented a large and spreading oil slick in the area of Kharg Island in Iran. The island's strategic importance stems from the fact that it serves as the departure point for 90% of the Islamic Republic's oil exports.

Abu Ali Express and Hadashot 360 note that the data raises questions regarding the source of the leak. According to the reports, in the words of Abu Ali Express, "During the last four days, no oil tankers were observed in the vicinity of the island," a fact that rules out at this stage the possibility that this is a leak caused by a loading process or a malfunction in a tanker.

In the report by Hadashot 360, it was emphasized that due to the absence of vessels in the vicinity of the area in recent days, the spread of the slick cannot be attributed to a routine operational event involving oil tankers.

As of now, official sources in Iran have yet to respond to the satellite findings, and the reason for the formation of the slick in the sensitive location remains a mystery, which sparks various assessments regarding the state of the energy infrastructure in the country.