60-Square-Mile Oil Slick Chokes UAE Coast as Iran Escalates Hormuz Strikes
A 60-square-mile oil slick forces UAE beach closures while Iran ramps up tanker attacks ahead of US midterms.
The UAE has confirmed a massive oil spill covering 60 square miles along its Persian Gulf coastline, forcing the closure of Umm Al Quwain beaches as Iran simultaneously escalates tanker strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The slick, detected by Windward AI on Tuesday, is linked to the Taiwanese VLCC Gem No.
UAE UAE Beaches Closed as Cleanup Efforts Underway
The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment acknowledged the spill after it washed ashore along the Khor Al Beidah peninsula, prompting widespread reports of strong fumes. While officials insist the odours pose no health risk, they have ordered fishermen to avoid the area and closed beaches until technical teams complete their assessment. Containment and cleanup operations are now underway, though the ministry has not commented on the spill’s origins.
Brent Crude
Satellite imagery analysed by Windward AI suggests the slick originated from the 3023,783 dwt VLCC Gem No. 23, which was struck 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera. The vessel, registered in Panama, was one of several targeted by Iran earlier this month as part of its enforcement campaign in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Iran’s Enforcement Actions and Market Reactions
As the UAE grapples with the spill, Iran’s so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority has intensified its rhetoric, claiming 40 enforcement actions in recent days. Two ships have reportedly agreed to comply with Iran’s demands to avoid further strikes, though independent verification of these claims remains elusive.
Iran’s latest assertions include attacks on four vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers, a shuttle service launched by Gulf states to bypass Iranian restrictions, and three ships allegedly disabled by mines. However, U.S. Central Command has flatly denied the presence of mines in the Strait, calling Iran’s claims a propaganda effort tied to the upcoming U.S. midterm elections on November 3. Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on social media, accusing Tehran of fabricating attacks to inflate oil prices:
«Iran is doing everything they can to drive up the price of oil prior to the U.S. midterm election. They are even making up fake hits, mines, and everything else, because more Oil is coming through the Hormuz Strait now than it did even prior to the beginning of the conflict.»
Donald Trump·Former U.S. President
Brent crude surged to $115 a barrel on Friday, its highest level since early May, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed above $100.
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an additional attack on Thursday, with a tanker struck approximately 7 nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman. The vessel was able to continue its voyage, but the incident underscores the Strait’s volatility. Since July, UKMTO has recorded 79 projectile strikes, with 57 targeting vessels on the southern route. Year to date, remove.
The UAE’s silence on the spill’s source contrasts with Iran’s aggressive posturing, creating a fog of uncertainty over the Strait’s future.
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