America News Agency

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Baqaei issued a statement regarding environmental pollution in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding seas.

Baqaei said images showing oil pollution along the coast of Qeshm Island had been published in recent days, adding that the pollution had drifted from the Persian Gulf toward the coast and that preliminary findings indicated the source was a foreign bulk carrier.

Baqaei said the pollution had been detected in three coastal areas and in some sections of the sea surface, noting that the incident was one of the visible examples of widespread pollution that has affected the marine ecosystem of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in recent years.

Baqaei claimed that damage to Iran's coastal areas had reached trillions of dollars and questioned who should be responsible for compensating for those losses.

The Iranian spokesperson said all parties benefiting from commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz bear legal and moral responsibility for addressing environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.