‘Disaster waiting to happen’ as 85 oil tankers ‘stuck in Persian Gulf’ | World | News
An ecological catastrophe is looming in the Persian Gulf after 85 large oil tankers became trapped amid Iran’s relentless attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, environmentalists have warned. The vessels are carrying at least 21 billion litres of crude, according to satellite imagery and ship-tracking data analysed by Greenpeace Germany. Mines are being laid and missiles have already struck vessels in the area, turning the narrow chokepoint into a floating bomb.
Nina Noelle of Greenpeace Germany said: “Right now, there are dozens of tankers carrying billions of litres of oil trapped in the Persian Gulf as mines are being laid and missiles are hitting ships. This is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. A single oil spill in the Gulf could damage this fragile marine habitat beyond repair with devastating consequences for people, animals, and plants in the region, adding to the terrible human toll this illegal war has already taken on local communities.”
Greenpeace simulations show how an oil slick would spread rapidly through the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters, smothering pristine coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows. The organisation described the situation as “an ecological ticking time bomb”.
The crisis stems from Iran’s response to US and Israeli strikes that began on 28 February. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in his first public statement since the conflict erupted, declared that the leverage of closing the Strait of Hormuz “should be used” and vowed continued attacks on Gulf Arab neighbours. He also urged citizens in those countries to “shut down” US bases, dismissing American protection as “nothing more than a lie”.
Iranian forces have since pounded energy infrastructure and commercial shipping. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel this week, with Goldman Sachs forecasting average prices of $98–110 in March and April, pushing US inflation potentially to 3.3 per cent and delaying Federal Reserve rate cuts until September.
The war has already displaced up to 3.2 million Iranians, most fleeing Tehran for rural areas, according to the UN refugee agency. In Lebanon, Israel has ordered residents south of the Zahrani River to evacuate before expanded operations against Hezbollah, which fired 200 rockets into northern Israel overnight.
Several vessels have been hit, including a Japanese-flagged container ship, a Thai cargo vessel and a Marshall Islands tanker struck by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. India reported three seafarers killed and one missing in “maritime incidents”. Ships are now broadcasting “CHINA OWNER” signals in an apparent bid to avoid targeting.
The US Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, admitted the fleet is not currently providing escorts, prioritising instead the destruction of Iran’s offensive capabilities. Speaking on the status of the Navy, Chris Wright said: “It will happen relatively soon, but it can’t happen now. We’re simply not ready.”
Meanwhile, a non-combat fire in the laundry room of the USS Gerald R Ford left two sailors injured, though the carrier remains operational in the Red Sea.
Greenpeace linked the chaos directly to fossil-fuel dependence. Nina Noelle said: “The US-Israel attack on Iran and subsequent strikes by Iran on neighbouring Gulf countries has shown once again that our dependence on fossil fuels is a constant threat to peace, security and prosperity. When oil and gas prices surge, fossil fuel giants rake in more profits while everyday people are hit by higher costs for heating, electricity, transport and food.”
The group called for immediate de-escalation and a global shift to distributed renewable energy to reduce conflict risks. Nina Noelle added: “From Venezuela to Iran, we’ve seen how Trump’s stated desire to control resources – especially oil and gas – is playing out in violent foreign policy.”
With no end in sight and the Pentagon reporting $11.3billion spent in the first week alone, the trapped tankers represent both an environmental and economic powder keg. One spark could trigger a spill whose effects would linger for decades across one of the world’s most vital energy arteries.
