Dr Radhika Vakharia –
The escalating Iran-Israel-US war has drawn not only global attention for its geopolitical and economic shockwaves, but an equally grave and less visible, although highly-probable, consequence: a mounting environmental crisis driven by attacks on oil infrastructure and tankers across the Gulf.
Recent strikes on energy facilities, including refineries, gas fields, and export terminals, mark a dangerous shift in modern warfare. Oil and gas installations, once largely avoided due to their systemic importance, are now primary targets. The result is not just disrupted supply, but widespread pollution with long term ecological consequences.
When oil facilities are bombed, the immediate impact is dramatic. Massive fires release dense plumes of soot, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. In Iran, such strikes have already produced what scientists describe as “black rain,” toxic precipitation formed when polluted smoke mixes with rainfall. These emissions can travel well beyond the strike zone, degrading air quality across entire regions. The health risks are acute and severe. Exposure to airborne pollutants from burning petroleum can cause respiratory distress, skin irritation, and cardiovascular problems, while long term exposure is linked to cancer and chronic diseases. Urban populations are especially vulnerable, as oil depots are often located near densely populated areas.
Beyond air pollution, the destruction of storage tanks and pipelines leads to soil and water contamination. Crude oil and refined products seep into the ground, carrying toxic compounds, including heavy metals and carcinogenic hydrocarbons, into groundwater systems. This creates persistent environmental damage, affecting agriculture, drinking water, and ecosystems for years, if not decades.
A useful historical comparison highlights the scale of environmental damage war can cause. During the 1991 Gulf War, an estimated 7 to 9 million barrels of oil were deliberately released into the sea, creating one of the largest oil spills in history. In addition, around 3.5 million tons of oil contaminated land, forming vast “oil lakes” across the desert.
The maritime dimension further compounds the crisis. The Persian Gulf, through which roughly a fifth of global oil passes, is now a high-risk conflict zone. Attacks on tankers or shipping lanes raise the likelihood of oil spills, which can devastate marine life, coral ecosystems, and coastal economies. Even limited spills in such a semi enclosed body of water can have outsized and long-lasting impacts due to slow natural dispersion.
The recent reports of strikes on regional energy hubs and tanker routes underscore this risk, as disruption to shipping increases the probability of accidents, leaks, or deliberate sabotage. The Gulf’s shallow waters and fragile biodiversity make it particularly susceptible to ecological collapse under sustained stress.
There is also a cascading effect. Pollution from oil fires contributes to climate change through black carbon emissions, while damaged infrastructure can leak methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Simultaneously, the war threatens desalination plants that supply fresh water to millions, raising the spectre of a broader environmental and humanitarian crisis.
In this conflict, the environment is not just collateral damage. It is a silent casualty. As attacks on energy infrastructure intensify, the Iran war risks triggering a prolonged ecological disaster, one that will outlast the conflict itself and reshape the environmental future of the region.
Marex Media
In this conflict, the environment is not just collateral damage. It’s a silent casualty.