Trump’s War Poses a “Generational Threat” to Wildlife in the Persian Gulf

Oil spills linked to the US-Iran war are spreading across the Persian Gulf, threatening wildlife and fragile marine habitats. Researchers warn that the damage could last for generations in a shallow, already stressed sea, while a naval blockade makes it difficult to assess conditions on the ground.

Since the war began on 28 February, Greenpeace has identified more than 500 possible spill events across the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea. It estimates their mapped footprints total about 20,000 square kilometres, roughly the size of Wales; more than 133 attacks on oil tankers have been reported, with October the worst month. Oil can harm birds, mangroves and marine life, and may persist in shorelines and sediments after visible slicks fade.