By Anders Lorenzen

‘A disaster waiting to happen, this is the warning being sounded by Greenpeace about the build-up of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. 

As a result of the ongoing conflict in the region directly between the US and Israel targeting Iran, but now involving several other countries, Iran is policing and has closed down a critically important oil trading route at the Strait of Hormuz.

Why the build-up of oil tankers presents a huge environmental risk

Therefore there has been a build-up of oil tankers in the area, Greenpeace have mapped them and have subsequently raised serious concerns of the environmental risks they pose.

It is particularly the risk of an oil spill that greatly worries the environmental campaign group.

Greenpeace Germany analysed and mapped the Strait of Hormuz by using movement data and satellite imagery as well as a simulation of the potential consequences of oil spills in the Persian gulf if the tankers carrying crude oil are damaged. 

The 21 billion litres of trapped crude oil

The data analysis found that currently at least 21 billion litres of crude oil is trapped in the waters of the gulf. 

Greenpeace says that its simulations show how an oil slick could spread if the stranded tankers are damaged in an attack. They explain the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters are home to pristine coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. They further explain that the ecological ticking time bomb also represents an enormous risk that further increases instability and human suffering in the region.

An environmental disaster waiting to happen

Nina Noelle from Greenpeace Germany stated: “Right now, there are dozens of tankers carrying billions of litres of oil trapped in the Persian Gulf. 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.”

Oil, mines and missiles – a leathal coctail

The likelihood of an oil spill is made much more possible due to the Iranian military deploying mines in the Persian Gulf to deter oil tankers from passing through and they’re targeting ships that are sailing through with missiles.

Greenpeace argues that this yet again demonstrates how our reliance on fossil fuels threatens peace and stability, “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.” Noelle added.

De-escalate and urgently transition away from fossil fuels

In the wake of this, Greenpeace calls on all parties involved in the conflict to come together and de-escalate tensions and adopt peaceful diplomatic solutions and that an urgent shift away from fossil fuels should be one of those solutions.

Greenpeace offers a clear perspective on who the winners are in Trump’s aggressive foreign policy agenda “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. In Trump’s illegal war with Iran, the only winners are the oil and gas companies.”

Anders Lorenzen is the founding Editor of A greener life, a greener world.