Experts Call for Gulf Ecological Union Following Severe Environmental Damage Caused by Iran War

Gulf nations have been urged to form an environmental task force to address what a new study has described as "unprecedented” ecological disruption across the region caused by the Iran war. The research, which considered the environmental effects of tanker strikes, port attacks and refinery explosions, stated that the Arabian Gulf’s “sensitive ecosystems” had been “severely impacted,” resulting in fewer species in some areas.

According to Dr Devaraj Asir Ramesh of Anna University in Chennai, India, who compiled the analysis, the UAE’s marine habitats face continuous threats from toxic debris and oil spills, while noise pollution may have disturbed marine life. Iranian strikes on the Emirates are likely to have contaminated seagrass beds with hydrocarbons and caused auditory damage to cetaceans, which are sensitive to loud noises traveling through the sea. Furthermore, ecological harm may have resulted from oil released by attacks on tankers at Fujairah.

“Oil spills, chemical leaks, and acoustic disturbances have impaired biodiversity, fisheries, aquaculture, desalination, and eco-tourism,” Dr Ramesh wrote in the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Sciences.

To combat the damage from conflict, Dr Ramesh called for widespread efforts to strengthen natural environments across the Gulf through measures such as coral reef regeneration at Musandam, increased mangrove planting at Ras Al Khor in Dubai, and the restoration of seagrass meadows off Abu Dhabi. He suggested that Gulf nations form an “ecological union” to coordinate restoration efforts for environments harmed by the conflict, which began at the end of February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Dr Manjula Nair, an associate professor of chemistry in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, noted that a key concern is oil leakages infiltrating Iran’s Siri and Qeshm islands, which feature extensive coral reefs, mangrove forests, and sandy beaches. She added that ongoing military activities have hindered efforts to contain these spills, and warned that oil pollution extends beyond marine ecosystems to threaten water security and desalination plant performance.

An oil spill from the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which ran aground off Oman on June 30, also reached the sultanate's coastline. Doug Weir, director of the UK-based non-profit organisation Conflict and Environment Observatory, indicated that the scale of damage from the current conflict remains poorly recorded compared to other wars due to restricted access and ongoing hostilities.

In addition to marine and land damage, the conflict has caused serious air pollution, according to Dr Diana Francis, head of the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Laboratory at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi. Dr Francis explained that airborne particles can travel and persist for days or weeks, with rain transferring persistent contaminants to land and water where they can remain for years.