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(SeaPRwire) - Iran has announced the deployment of small submarines to serve as an "invisible guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz, amid a series of rejected peace agreements between Tehran and the U.S., according to reports.The claim of submarine deployment emerged as analysts noted that while Iran’s Ghadir-class mini-submarines could pose a threat to U.S. naval forces, their limited range, firepower, and endurance would significantly reduce any meaningful strategic effect.Bloomberg highlighted the submarine deployment, which was first reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, head of Iran’s navy, stated that his forces had deployed light submarines, described by Iranian state media as the "dolphins of the Persian Gulf."The move also coincides with Tehran’s efforts to strengthen its control over the strait, now defined as a much broader zone, Reuters reported."Time would be limited—probably no more than a few days at most," defense analyst Tom Shugart told Digital regarding the Iranian submarine deployment.The retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer also pointed out that the small diesel-electric submarines face significant operational limitations."If they use their diesel engines to snorkel and recharge batteries, that could produce noise detectable by sonar," Shugart said."Their snorkel masts extending above the water could also be spotted by radar on patrol aircraft or helicopters," he added.Designed for shallow waters such as the Strait of Hormuz, these submarines can operate quietly for short durations using battery power."While they may be able to remain submerged on the seabed for a time and run quietly on batteries, they lack an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) found in more advanced diesel-electric submarines," Shugart explained, noting that they would "eventually need to surface and snorkel, making them more susceptible to detection and attack."The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy is reportedly the only operator of this submarine class, all of which are part of the Southern Fleet."Any remaining Ghadir-class submarines, if they exist and are actively deployed, might be capable of laying mines or threatening merchant vessels," Shugart cautioned."However, I don’t consider them a serious threat to U.S. Navy warships—let alone to U.S. submarines," he said."That said, I certainly wouldn’t want to be aboard one in the current climate."On May 10, the U.S. Navy confirmed that an Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine armed with ballistic missiles had arrived in Gibraltar."The port visit underscores U.S. naval capability, flexibility, and ongoing commitment to NATO allies," stated U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs."Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines serve as undetectable launch platforms for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, forming the most survivable component of the U.S. nuclear triad," the statement added.Shugart’s comments came as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut down, with commercial tanker traffic largely halted due to ongoing military operations and the continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.The United Arab Emirates and South Korea reported new attacks on stranded ships on Wednesday, while the IRGC stepped up activity with fast-attack craft, according to reports.President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran’s navy is "completely destroyed."The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - President Donald Trump described the ceasefire with Iran as being on "massive life support," highlighting a growing divide among retired U.S. commanders and national security experts regarding whether Washington should restart military operations against Tehran or steer clear of what critics warn could evolve into another protracted Middle East conflict."I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support," Trump stated to reporters on Monday, likening it to a medical scenario where "the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living.’"Trump also dismissed Iran’s most recent response to a proposed agreement as "a piece of garbage," even as reports indicate the White House is assessing military options should negotiations fall apart.Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who previously served as Trump’s national security adviser, expressed skepticism that Iran’s leadership would agree to the concessions Trump deems essential for a deal."I think the Iranian leadership and IRGC are unwilling to make the kind of concessions that President Trump thinks are at the minimum," McMaster remarked to Digital, referring to Iran’s hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps."President Trump always wants a deal," he added. "But he's not going to sign up for a bad deal."The ongoing debate now hinges on a central issue facing Washington: whether increased military pressure can compel Iran to abandon its nuclear and missile ambitions, or if renewed strikes would only intensify regional hostilities without yielding decisive outcomes.Retired Vice Adm. Mark Fox, former deputy commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), believes the current ceasefire and diplomatic efforts are unlikely to force Iran into submission."I really cannot envision anything other than a full return to combat operations," Fox told Digital. "The only thing that they will respond to, I think ultimately, is force."Fox argued that the U.S. military remains capable of reopening and securing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz despite persistent Iranian threats against vessels traversing the waterway."This is a militarily obtainable objective," he said, outlining a strategy involving guided missile destroyers, attack helicopters, drones, and expanded aerial surveillance to establish a protected maritime corridor through the strait.Fox acknowledged that the U.S. Navy is smaller than it was during the 1980s tanker wars but maintained that American forces still possess the capacity to secure the strategic chokepoint if Washington commits sufficient naval assets and continuous monitoring operations."It’s not easy," Fox admitted. "But the geography is fixed."He outlined a possible approach that would deploy destroyers, drones, and attack aircraft to create what he called an "unblinking eye" over the strait, enabling U.S. forces to detect and neutralize Iranian speedboats, drones, and anti-shipping threats before they can target commercial vessels.Fox also cautioned against allowing Iran to maintain leverage over the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to advance its missile and nuclear programs."If not now, when?" he asked. "If they had a nuclear weapon, they would use it."Fox, who co-signed a recent policy paper by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, echoed the report’s conclusion that Iran is leveraging negotiations to buy time while preserving its military capabilities.The report, authored by several retired senior U.S. military officials and national security experts—including retired Gen. Chuck Wald, former deputy commander of U.S. European Command, and retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward, former deputy commander of CENTCOM—asserted that the current ceasefire and diplomatic track "cannot reliably compel Iran" to meet U.S. demands. It warned that Tehran is seeking to "drag out talks, erode U.S. resolve, and use the time to strengthen itself."The report advocated for expanded military operations targeting Iran’s maritime capabilities, missile infrastructure, and internal coercive apparatus, while avoiding broad attacks on civilian infrastructure that could provoke wider regional escalation.However, not all experts believe renewed military action would lead to better results.Retired Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, a senior fellow at Defense Priorities and a long-standing critic of expanded U.S. military interventions, cautioned that calls to "finish the job" overlook the realities revealed during recent clashes."To ‘finish the job,’ as they say, is irrational," Davis told Digital. "It’s illogical, and it violates any kind of military principle."Davis pointed out that despite thousands of strikes and weeks of fighting, Iran retained substantial missile and maritime capabilities."We couldn't knock them out with 14,000 targets hit," he noted. "Why does anybody think that going back another time is going to have a different result?"He characterized Iran’s geography, dispersed missile infrastructure, and asymmetric naval tactics as creating what he termed "a militarily unsolvable problem.""The only thing left is a diplomatic outcome," Davis concluded.This disagreement reflects a broader schism emerging in Washington as officials deliberate on the next steps should negotiations collapse.Advocates for renewed military action argue that Iran is weaker than it has been in decades and that halting now would risk allowing Tehran to regroup, rebuild its missile arsenal, and retain influence over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.Opponents counter that even extensive U.S. and Israeli strikes failed to fundamentally dismantle the regime’s control or eliminate its military capabilities, raising concerns that further escalation could entangle the United States in another prolonged regional conflict with uncertain consequences. 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(SeaPRwire) - The church bells still toll in Rmeish, a village on the Lebanon-Israel border.While much of southern Lebanon has endured devastation amid the conflict between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, Rmeish—a predominantly Christian town near the frontier—remains largely unscathed. Its churches still stand, homes remain undamaged, and residents attribute their safety to their refusal to let Hezbollah operate within the village."There were multiple attempts by Hezbollah fighters to approach the village’s outskirts or entrance to launch rockets," one resident told Jusoor News. "The young men of Rmeish confronted them and blocked their entry.""That ensured Rmeish was spared from Israeli strikes," the resident added. "The Israelis don’t attack indiscriminately—they target rocket launch sites."The account provides a rare public look at open defiance of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, where dissent against the Iran-backed group is often silenced with accusations of treason or collaboration with Israel.Tarek, a Christian activist from Rmeish who spoke with Digital by phone, said the town has long faced pressure for refusing to align with Hezbollah."Since 2000, after Israel withdrew, we’ve constantly been labeled as Israeli collaborators," Tarek said. "We’ve endured immense hardship because of that stigma."He noted that Hezbollah supporters accused the village of working with Israel simply because it avoided the destruction seen in nearby communities.The interviews come as the Trump administration facilitates negotiations between Israel and Lebanon aimed at stabilizing the border and curbing Hezbollah’s military activities in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently dismissed any possibility of disarming, even as U.S. officials continue efforts to bolster the Lebanese state at the expense of the armed group.Tarek argued that Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon is inseparable from Iran’s."Hezbollah has effectively controlled the Lebanese government for nearly 36 years," he told Digital. "It’s deeply embedded in every branch—government, security, military, and state institutions.""Even if the president or prime minister calls for peace, Hezbollah will oppose it," he said.According to Tarek, weakening Iran is essential to weakening Hezbollah."It’s about cutting off the head of the octopus—the Iranian regime," he explained. "Once that’s done, Hezbollah can no longer function."Another resident said many in Rmeish now believe "Hezbollah’s agenda is an Iranian project, not a Lebanese one."A local woman described living in constant tension, surrounded by conflict yet striving to keep her town out of the fighting."We’re caught in the middle, with war closing in from all sides," she said. "It leaves us in a state of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and instability."A man from the village said residents have suffered through decades of wars they never chose."We’ve chosen to stay strong," he said. "Where else could we go?"An elderly resident recalled his family enduring border violence since the 1970s."We’re exhausted by war," he said. "All we want is peace."Despite backlash from Hezbollah supporters, residents maintain they do not regret resisting the group."We reject all accusations of treason," one resident stated. "The people of Rmeish simply want to live safely on their land."Another added: "Just because I don’t support your cause doesn’t make me a traitor."Ahed Al Hendi, a senior fellow at the Center for Peace Communications, told Digital that "the resistance shown by Christians in southern Lebanon signals a significant shift in the country’s internal dynamics. For over twenty years, many border-dwelling Christians lived under Hezbollah’s dominance, often stigmatized and afraid to speak out.""Now," Al Hendi continued, "as the balance of power changes, they are increasingly challenging Hezbollah openly and speaking against what they view as its oppression." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - The seemingly collapse of high-stakes U.S.-Iran negotiations has heightened fears that senior leaders within Tehran’s ruling establishment could flee to Russia to seek shelter, with the aim of "continuing their insurgency and undermining any new Iranian regime," an analyst warns. The breakdown of the talks comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS’ "60 Minutes" that overthrowing Iran’s ruling regime could now even be a feasible outcome. Netanyahu pointed out that any such collapse would dismantle the "scaffolding" of Tehran’s global network of terrorist proxies, potentially ending Hezbollah’s regional influence as well. "The entire framework of the terrorist proxy network that Iran has built will crumble if the Iranian regime falls," Netanyahu stated. "I believe no one can predict when that will occur. Is it a possibility? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No," he cautioned. With diplomatic options likely exhausted and the regime’s stability in doubt, one expert has posited that any exit strategy the ruling leadership might be considering could mirror that of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who fled Syria in 2024. "If the situation deteriorates further, some senior figures could potentially follow a similar path to Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle and seek refuge in Russia," Middle East expert Saeid Golkar told Digital. Golkar, a senior advisor at United Against Nuclear Iran, noted that escape destinations would likely depend on a leader’s rank. While top officials such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf might travel to Moscow, lower-ranking figures would be more likely to seek shelter in Iraq or Afghanistan, where the IRGC maintains operational ties, he clarified. "For the most senior leaders, Russia would probably be the most likely destination, just as we saw with Bashar al-Assad," Golkar said, noting that many officials have already transferred their assets into "financial networks outside Iran." The ongoing crisis began following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in 2026, at the onset of Operation Epic Fury. While his son Mojtaba Khamenei was named as his successor, ongoing reports indicate he sustained severe injuries during the strikes and has been absent from recent negotiations. Golkar explained that the "invisible state," or Bayt-e Rahbari, was designed to withstand decapitation, while the ideological cost of fleeing the country would be high for ruling leaders. "Within the regime’s ideological culture, leaving the nation during a collapse would be viewed as desertion," Golkar noted. However, as military fractures deepen and succession remains unclear, the "Assad model" of seeking Russian protection appears increasingly appealing to those in the top ranks of power. "Mojtaba, however, is 'either dead or in very poor health, which is why he cannot send any video or voice message,'" Golkar added. "If he died from his injuries, there was no clear natural successor. He was the continuation of the regime." "Still, the system was built to ensure continuity during a crisis," Golkar said, adding that its goal is to "make sure the regime can survive even if formal institutions are damaged, leaders are killed, or the civilian government stops functioning." "I would characterize this as a regime designed not just to govern, but always to strive to survive decapitation," Golkar added. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - On Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was fighting to hold onto his role, declining to step down even as pressure from within his own party mounted and a wave of close aides resigned.Reports indicate that calls for his resignation intensified after more than 70 Labor MPs publicly urged the party leader to quit, while several parliamentary aides stepped down in protest.This growing rebellion comes at a critical juncture for Starmer, whose authority has been undermined by political and economic setbacks.As Digital previously reported, the immediate catalyst was the crushing losses in the May 8 local elections: Labor lost hundreds of council seats across England, surrendered long-held territory in Wales, and fell behind rivals in Scotland.A recent YouGov poll also found that roughly half of Britons believe Starmer should resign.At the same time, rising U.K. borrowing costs have heightened concerns about the government’s economic and public service policies, as well as its failure to ease living costs.The Associated Press reported that Starmer was further damaged by his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson—a friend of Jeffrey Epstein—as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.In Scotland, Labor’s struggles were laid bare when John Swinney secured a decisive victory, delivering another blow to Starmer’s authority.The result drew attention from former President Donald Trump, who publicly congratulated Swinney and appeared to take a swipe at Starmer.Trump and Starmer’s relationship had grown strained; the former president said, "This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with," criticizing the U.K. leader’s reluctance to let U.S. warplanes use British bases after the start of the war against Iran.Meanwhile, Starmer struck a defiant tone in a speech labeled a "reset" on Monday, insisting he would not resign."I take responsibility for not walking away, not plunging our country into chaos like the Tories did," he stated.Sam Carlin, one of the MPs calling for change, said Starmer was "not the right person" to revive the struggling party."As a result, I join Labor colleagues across the U.K. in urging the prime minister to step down for the sake of our movement and the people we serve," he added."We have made significant progress, but if we stay on our current path, it will not last."Former minister Catherine West led efforts to formalize the challenge, calling for a timetable to elect a new leader as early as September.Three figures are viewed as frontrunners to succeed Starmer.Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham would need to return to Parliament to launch a bid, while Angela Rayner continues to grapple with the fallout from past tax issues.Health Secretary Wes Streeting is seen as a more immediate contender.Under Labor rules, a leadership contest can be triggered if sufficient support coalesces behind a challenger—typically through nominations from MPs and affiliated groups.If Starmer were to resign, the party would enter a formal contest period, culminating in a vote among members. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Military officials have confirmed that the remains of a U.S. Army officer who disappeared during training exercises in Morocco have been retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean, while efforts to locate a second soldier remain ongoing.U.S. Army Europe and Africa stated on Sunday that the body of 27-year-old 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. of Richmond, Virginia, was recovered on Saturday. Key, an Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of two soldiers who reportedly fell from a cliff while on an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2.According to the Army, a Moroccan search team discovered Key’s remains in the water along the coast at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time Saturday, about one mile from the site where the two soldiers were believed to have entered the water."Today, we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered in Morocco," said Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. "Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him. The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command family is grieving, and we will continue to support one another and 1st Lt. Key’s family as we honor his life and service."Key and the other soldier were reported missing on May 2 while taking part in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held across Senegal, Ghana, Tunisia, and Morocco.Moroccan military authorities reported that the two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a region characterized by desert, mountains, and semi-desert plains.The search-and-rescue operation for the pair involved over 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco, and other partner nations, utilizing drones, helicopters, and ships.The search for the second soldier is continuing.A U.S. team has stayed in Morocco following the conclusion of the exercises on Friday to maintain command and control and assist with the ongoing search efforts.The Army noted that Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.His military honors include the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal.Key joined the military in 2023 as an officer candidate, receiving his commission the following year through Officer Candidate School. He subsequently finished the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.He is survived by his sister, brother-in-law, and parents.African Lion 24 is a U.S.-led exercise that commenced in April across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal, involving more than 5,600 military and civilian personnel from over 40 countries.It stands as the largest U.S. joint military exercise on the African continent, a status it has held for more than two decades.In 2012, an MV-22 Osprey crash near Cap Draa during the African Lion exercise resulted in the deaths of two U.S. Marines and injuries to two others. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - A colossal ruby discovered in Burma is being recognized as the second-largest ever found in the conflict-affected nation.The gemstone, weighing approximately 11,000 carats—about 4.8 pounds—was unearthed near Mogok in the Mandalay region, a key hub of Burma’s gem industry and an area currently impacted by ongoing hostilities, according to The Associated Press, quoting state media.The discovery occurred in mid-April, just after the country’s traditional New Year festivities.While it is about half the size of a 21,450-carat ruby found in 1996, experts suggest this new specimen could command greater value due to its superior quality, as reported by the news outlet.The stone exhibits a purplish-red hue with subtle yellow undertones, moderate transparency, and a highly reflective surface.Burmese President Min Aung Hlaing and his cabinet have already examined the gem in the capital, Naypyidaw.Burma accounts for up to 90% of the world’s ruby production, primarily from Mogok and the nearby Mong Hsu mines.The gem trade—both legal and illicit—constitutes a major economic driver in the country.Nevertheless, human rights organizations such as Global Witness have consistently called on jewelers to refrain from purchasing Burmese gemstones, asserting that the trade fuels the nation’s military regimes, per The Associated Press.Gem mining also provides financial support to ethnic armed groups vying for autonomy, further fueling Burma’s protracted conflicts.Mining areas remain unstable.Mogok was captured by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group, in July 2024; control subsequently reverted to the military following a ceasefire agreement brokered by China late last year. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - A second suspected oil slick has been detected near Iran’s Kharg Island export hub, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward AI, raising concerns about a potential environmental disaster as the larger spill identified on May 8 continues moving toward Saudi Arabian waters.The newly spotted slick comes amid warnings from U.N. officials that oil spills in the region could lead to an ecological catastrophe during the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis."Another possible oil spill was detected today at 11 a.m. local time," Windward reported. The visible area is estimated to be between 12 and 20 square kilometers.While Tehran has blamed foreign vessels, maritime experts suggest the main slick—estimated at tens of thousands of barrels and covering approximately 65 square kilometers, per the U.N. University Institute for Water, Environment and Health—is more likely due to aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures, or the heightened tensions of a "war mode" environment since February."We should be concerned about the origin of the slick and closely monitor any developments," said U.N. official Dr. Kaveh Madani."If this slick expands, we must seriously consider the possibility of leakage from aging infrastructure," he added, noting that the slick was "moving southwest away from the island.""We need to track its movement and determine whether it approaches populated areas. If so, desalination operations may need to be suspended. Currently, the risk remains low," he stated.Madani also highlighted that the slick is located near a heavily concentrated zone of pipelines and energy facilities."Maintaining these infrastructure systems in good condition has already been challenging for Iranians even during peacetime due to sanctions," he explained, warning that in times of conflict, "a major accident is highly probable."Water circulation in the Persian Gulf is slow, allowing pollutants to linger for extended periods, he noted."Similar incidents occurred during the Gulf Wars and the Iran-Iraq War, with lasting impacts on coastal communities, fisheries, marine ecosystems, and even desalination plant intakes," he recalled.The larger spill, visible in satellite images as a gray-and-white patch, was first observed west of Kharg Island, as reported by Windward AI on May 8, and has since continued its drift."It is believed to be crude oil rather than bunker fuel and unlikely to have originated from a ship, possibly stemming from pipeline issues or a failed ship-to-ship transfer," the company said.According to Windward, the spill could enter Qatar’s exclusive economic zone within about four days and potentially reach the UAE’s Al Mirfa region in roughly 13 days.The incident follows increased U.S. efforts to enforce "Economic Fury" by tightening sanctions and expanding naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz in order to limit Iran’s oil exports.Since Iran closed the strait in late February following heightened hostilities, tankers have accumulated in the region as the critical oil transit route remains largely blocked."We are also aware of the large number of tankers operating in the area, which increases the likelihood of accidental spills," Madani remarked."As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and the region remains in a state of conflict, environmental protection will not be a priority. However, monitoring tanker activity is still essential," he emphasized.In the meantime, Jafar Pourkabgani, a lawmaker representing Bushehr province, asserted that the slick resulted from "oil residue and ballast water waste from European tankers" discharged into the sea."This claim is false and part of the enemy’s psychological warfare," he wrote on X, dismissing allegations that Iran deliberately released oil due to full storage tanks.Iran’s Oil Terminals Company also denied reports of a leak near Kharg Island, Reuters reported.The company’s chief executive stated on Sunday that inspections found no evidence of leaks originating from storage tanks, pipelines, loading facilities, or nearby tankers. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - On Sunday, thousands gathered in London to protest the dramatic surge in violent attacks against the nation's Jewish citizens.The marchers voiced their anger regarding the British government's failure to act on the matter.Days prior to the demonstration, U.K. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch told Digital that "zero tolerance for antisemitism" requires treating the "epidemic of violence" as a true national emergency. She has pushed for stricter measures, including the removal of foreign clerics inciting hatred in mosques and other bodies. "Antisemites will not be welcomed or tolerated. Britain has been a haven for Jews for centuries. It must remain so," she insisted.Her comments arrived as the U.K. elevated its national terrorism threat level to "severe," the second-highest category, indicating an attack is highly probable. Security officials cite a deteriorating climate marked by a rise in antisemitic acts, arson, and targeted violence as the reason for this change."There’s an unholy alliance of the hard Left and Islamist extremists behind some of the spread of antisemitism," Badenoch cautioned. She challenged the interpretation of slogans like "from the river to the sea" or "globalize the intifada," asking, "What do people think... mean if they do not mean the erasure of the world’s only Jewish state and violence against Jews everywhere?"Security officials in Britain have consistently identified Islamist extremism as a top terror threat, with MI5 warning that radicalization networks and extremist ideologies continue to present significant risks.Jewish leaders and analysts observe that open support for terrorist groups like Hamas, coupled with the public celebration of violence, has helped normalize hostility toward Jews.As antisemitic incidents hit record highs across the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces criticism over his handling of the crisis. Speaking at the No10 Tackling Antisemitism Forum last week, Starmer remarked: "Our Jewish communities [are] feeling frightened, angry and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them.""In recent months, as antisemitic incidents have risen, we have acted decisively to strengthen the safety of Jewish communities," he added, announcing an extra £25 million for patrols and security to prevent harm. Despite this, critics argue the response is inadequate, warning that Jewish people remain at risk as the situation escalates.Jonathan Sacerdoti, a London-based writer and commentator, told Digital that while police have shown they can deploy large-scale resources when needed, many Jewish residents doubt that same urgency is used to protect them."Considering they’re able to police massive anti-Israel protests every two weeks for the last two and a half years," Sacerdoti noted, "they ought to be able to do the same to protect Jews."He added that funding alone cannot fix the deeper issue at hand."Jews should not need a volunteer security organization," he stated. "The state should protect us itself."For Jewish families throughout the United Kingdom, the threat is a tangible part of daily life rather than an abstract concept.Rabbi Albert Chait of the United Hebrew Congregation in Leeds pointed out that the normalization of security for Jewish children is particularly troubling."You know what the worst thing is, in my opinion?" Chait asked. "The fact that my children do not ask why there is police outside their school. They do not question why there is paid security on the gate and on the street. They do not even question it because that is just normal day to day activity."The Community Security Trust reports that antisemitic incidents in Britain hit around 3,700 in 2025, among the highest ever recorded, leading to more funding for security at synagogues, schools, and institutions.As Britain faces a situation many call a national crisis, similar warnings are appearing in the United States.In Queens, New York, this past week, several Jewish homes, a synagogue, and a community center with a preschool were vandalized with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti, alarming residents.Swastikas in school bathrooms and subway stations, along with graffiti on Jewish institutions, show that hate symbols are becoming more visible in American life."One of the sites houses a pre-K program, where young children, their families and staff were greeted with swastikas and other hateful vandalism," said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, speaking to Jewish Insider. "This is not normal, and we need city leaders to act now."Many observers find the parallels between the two countries hard to dismiss.The rising violence, normalized hostility, and ideological debates seen in Britain are no longer just an overseas problem.These trends are increasingly reflected in communities across America.As the crisis grows, Badenoch’s warning has implications well beyond the United Kingdom."I have never seen the level of racism, discrimination, intimidation and attacks that have been directed at the Jewish community," she said. "If other minority communities were facing similar levels of violence, there would be a national emergency." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. 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(SeaPRwire) - EXCLUSIVE: Wang Chunyan held a photograph toward the camera, her hands trembling slightly as she pointed to each of the 21 smiling faces: a husband and wife, a university lecturer, a young engineer, friends she met in prison.Some died in detention, she said. Others after years of abuse. Others disappeared into China’s vast security system and never returned the same. "More than 25 of my friends have died in this persecution. I only have photos of 21 of them," Chunyan said, her voice breaking.For more than two decades, the 70-year-old Falun Gong practitioner said, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) systematically dismantled her life, stripping away the business she had built, the home she once shared with her family and, eventually, seven years of her life in prison.But the hardest thing for her is that she believes it took her husband too. "My beloved husband died due to the persecution," Chunyan claimed during an exclusive interview with Digital.Her account comes as President Donald Trump prepares to travel to China next week for meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with trade, security and regional tensions expected to dominate the agenda. Yet behind the geopolitical rivalry lies another conflict: Beijing’s decades-long campaign against religious and spiritual groups the Communist Party views as threats to its authority.Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback believes Wang’s story reflects a much broader struggle unfolding inside China. "Either the world changes China or China will change the world," Brownback told Digital.Brownback recently chronicled Chunyan’s story and the experiences of other survivors in his book China’s War on Faith, arguing that personal testimony can often reveal the reality of persecution more powerfully than statistics alone. "Stories are more powerful than data," he said.The book examines what Brownback describes as an increasingly sophisticated system of surveillance and repression targeting Christians, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners. He argues the Chinese Communist Party views independent faith communities as a direct threat to its authority."They fear religious freedom more than anything else. More than our aircraft carriers, more than our nuclear weapons, more than anything else because they think it is the biggest threat to the regime."Chunyan’s story started in the late 1990s, when she suffered from severe insomnia, sometimes sleeping only two or three hours a night. Then her older sister introduced her to Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice she says is centered on meditation exercises and teachings rooted in "truthfulness, compassion and tolerance."The movement spread rapidly across China during the 1990s, attracting tens of millions of followers before Beijing banned it in 1999, portraying it as a threat to Communist Party control.Chunyan says Falun Gong helped improve her physical condition. She said, "My business was booming. My family was happy. My life was perfect."Chunyan became convinced the practice had saved her life. She owned a successful company selling chemical production equipment and had become wealthy by Chinese standards, but after the crackdown began she felt compelled to publicly defend Falun Gong against what she believed were government lies.She bought a printing press and began distributing leaflets. Soon afterward, she said, surveillance followed everywhere."The buildings where I worked were under constant surveillance," Chunyan recalled. "I left to escape and was afraid to come home."For years, she lived in hiding, using prepaid calling cards and public telephones to secretly arrange meetings with her husband, Yu Yefu, in restaurants, coffee shops and hotels across the city. The two tried, briefly, to maintain some sense of normalcy.Yu himself never practiced Falun Gong, but police repeatedly pressured him to reveal where his wife was hiding. He never did. Then, in 2002, Wang stopped hearing from him.When she finally returned home, she found him unconscious. Doctors could not save him. "He protected me," she said in tears.He was 49 years old when he died. Their daughter was still in college.The devastation spread through the family afterward, Chunyan said. Her mother-in-law stopped eating and later became paralyzed. Her father-in-law died from grief. Her sisters were also imprisoned and tortured.Then came Chunyan’s own imprisonment.She described years of forced labor, sleep deprivation and physical abuse. At one point, she said, the torture became so severe that she fainted three times in a single day.One memory still haunts her most. Shortly before her release from prison, Wang said authorities conducted unexplained blood tests and medical examinations. At the time, fellow inmates told her the government was simply checking on Falun Gong prisoners before release. Only later, after learning about allegations of forced organ harvesting involving detained Falun Gong practitioners, did she begin to fear why the testing may have happened. "I was horrified," Chunyan said.Today, Chunyan lives in the United States, having left China in 2013 and eventually making her way through Thailand before arriving in America in 2015.Yet decades later, the losses remain immediate to her."There are millions of families in China like ours," Chunyan wants the world to know, "Persecuted by the CCP."In a statement to Digital, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu rejected the allegations and defended Beijing’s actions against Falun Gong. "The aforementioned remarks are nothing but malicious fabrications and sensational lies," Liu said. "Falun Gong is a cult organization that is anti-humanity, anti-science and anti-society. It is hostile toward religion, endangers the public, and serves as a malignant tumor within society." Liu argued that "the Chinese government outlawed the Falun Gong cult in accordance with the law, thereby safeguarding the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the vast majority of the Chinese people." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - According to a report, North Korea has amended its constitution to mandate an automatic nuclear retaliation in the event of the assassination of leader Kim Jong Un.The Telegraph reported that this change follows increased global tensions after the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials during a recent conflict.Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran as part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation earlier this year, Digital previously reported.The constitutional amendment was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed senior government officials this week on the update, according to the report.The revised policy details procedures for retaliatory action if North Korea’s leadership is incapacitated or killed."If the command-and-control system over the state’s nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile forces’ attacks … a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately," the updated provision states.Reuters previously reported that North Korea revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, reflecting Kim’s push to formally treat the two Koreas as separate states.That marked the first time North Korea included a territorial clause in its constitution.Last month, Kim pledged to further strengthen the country’s nuclear capabilities while maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he has called the "most hostile" state.Kim has also accused the United States of "state terrorism and aggression," and signaled North Korea could take a more active role in opposition to Washington amid rising global tensions.Digital's Alex Nitzberg and This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - A 39-year-old man pleaded not guilty on Friday to charges of threatening former Prince Andrew near his residence at the royal family’s Sandringham estate.Alex Jenkinson, 39, is accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior toward the former prince, whose royal titles were stripped last year by King Charles III due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.Jenkinson faces two counts: one for allegedly threatening Andrew on Wednesday and another for allegedly threatening a different man on Tuesday.The former Duke of York is also expected to testify during the trial, which is scheduled for July 29 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.According to the Daily Telegraph, Andrew was reportedly confronted by a masked individual while walking his dogs near his home."Police responded to the scene and arrested the suspect on suspicion of a public order offense and possession of an offensive weapon," stated the police report.This incident occurred three months after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—his current name—was himself arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his connections with Epstein and his role as the U.K. trade envoy.Andrew relocated to Sandringham earlier this year following his removal from his previous residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.Virginia Giuffre, who has been his primary accuser, alleged that she was compelled to engage in sexual activity with the royal on three occasions beginning when she was underage at 17 years old.Andrew has consistently denied these allegations but reached a settlement with Giuffre in 2022 over her civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault. She passed away by suicide in 2025.Jenkinson appeared before the court remotely from King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre in Norfolk on Friday; he was seen with his arm in a sling.Although he entered a plea of not guilty to the main charges, Jenkinson did plead guilty to refusing to provide a blood sample while in custody.He has been released on bail subject to conditions: he must not enter Norfolk, avoid any contact with Andrew, and maintain a distance of at least 500 meters from Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle, and Highgrove.Reuters and This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Nuclear weapons experts are urging the Trump administration to ensure that any new agreement with Iran explicitly prohibits the country from using plutonium from its nuclear facilities to develop atomic bombs.While the administration and non-proliferation specialists have primarily concentrated on Iran’s uranium-based nuclear weapons program, there is growing concern that Tehran could exploit this oversight by secretly pursuing a plutonium-driven pathway to building nuclear weapons.Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), stated to Digital: "I genuinely believe any proposed deal with Iran must address the plutonium route to nuclear weapons. Israel has struck the Arak heavy water reactor twice in the past year—once in June 2025 and again in March 2026. Intelligence indicated that Iran had repeatedly attempted to rebuild the facility even after these attacks, so any future agreement should include safeguards against the plutonium pathway."According to Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center and former deputy for nonproliferation policy at the Department of Defense (1989–1993), Iran could potentially use plutonium derived from spent fuel at its Bushehr nuclear reactor to construct an atomic weapon.In a recent article on the Real Clear Defense website, he emphasized: "Washington must ensure that Iran does not remove the spent fuel from Bushehr or extract plutonium from it. This can and should be accomplished without resorting to military action."Sokolski recommended that the Pentagon monitor whether Iran removes any spent fuel from the Bushehr plant, suggesting surveillance via space-based assets or drones, as was done in 2012. He also proposed that any peace deal between President Trump and Tehran include provisions for near-real-time monitoring of both the Bushehr reactor and its spent fuel pond, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) previous oversight of Iran’s enrichment activities.In an April article published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Sokolski asserted that Iran possesses enough plutonium to produce more than 200 nuclear warheads. He pointed out: "The last time IAEA inspectors visited Bushehr was on August 27, 2025. Even during periods when inspectors had routine access, visits occurred only every 90 days—a timeframe sufficient for diverting spent fuel and possibly fabricating it into nuclear weapons."He further noted: "President Obama did not demand such continuous surveillance, despite repeated requests from the IAEA; Iran consistently refused."Recent IAEA reports have failed to provide detailed analysis of the plutonium route to nuclear weapons.A State Department spokesperson told Digital that "Iran’s nuclear program poses a threat to the United States and the entire world."The spokesperson continued: "Today, Iran remains in violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by refusing full cooperation with the IAEA. Iran’s leadership must engage in meaningful diplomatic negotiations with the United States to resolve the nuclear issue permanently."David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security, expressed skepticism when asked about Iran’s intentions regarding plutonium from Bushehr’s spent fuel. The former weapons inspector argued:"First, Iran would need a design for a plutonium-based nuclear weapon that it has never developed—there is no evidence of such a design in the Nuclear Archive. Second, any attempt to divert material from Bushehr would likely be detected, prompting Russia to halt enriched uranium supplies, which would shut down a multibillion-dollar project vital for regional electricity generation. Third, most of the plutonium in the spent fuel is reactor-grade, and it may not even be suitable for weapons production."Albright added: "Although reactor-grade plutonium can theoretically be used to make nuclear weapons, doing so successfully—especially achieving significant explosive yield—is extremely challenging." He also remarked that former National Security Adviser John Bolton has raised concerns about this issue for decades, calling it a remote possibility that was initially rejected during the Bush administration.Despite these arguments, persistent fears remain over Iran’s deceptive tendencies and its ultimate goal of acquiring nuclear weapons capability. As a result, calls continue for a complete ban on Iran’s plutonium reprocessing and enhanced surveillance of its plutonium infrastructure within any future U.S.-led agreement.Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program, told Digital: "The United States must insist on a permanent and verifiable prohibition on plutonium reprocessing in Iran under any negotiated settlement."Stricker highlighted that Russia has also recognized the risks involved. She explained: "To Russia’s credit, it required Iran to allow inspectors back into the Bushehr facility following the June 2025 airstrikes, and those inspections resumed last August. While the plutonium produced at Bushehr is not ideal for nuclear weapons due to its low quality, Iran has not actively pursued the plutonium route since the early 2000s, making it difficult to restart such efforts. Additionally, Tehran would need to covertly acquire and equip a clandestine plutonium reprocessing plant along with advanced machinery to handle and chemically process the fuel—creating substantial barriers to developing weapons-grade material."She concluded by stating: "The IAEA could reduce proliferation risks at Bushehr by increasing inspection frequency to monthly intervals. Alternatively, Russia could remove the accumulated spent fuel from the site." This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. 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(SeaPRwire) - Three individuals died and five more sustained injuries on Friday following an eruption of Mount Dukono on a remote Indonesian island, where the hikers had entered a prohibited zone, officials stated.Approximately 20 trekkers began their ascent of the nearly 1,355-meter (4,445-foot) volcano in Halmahera on Thursday, disregarding safety prohibitions, according to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu."They knew the climb was banned because the mountain is a restricted area under high alert, but they persisted," Pasaribu said.In spite of social media cautions and on-site signage, "many are still eager to climb, motivated by the goal of producing content for the internet," Pasaribu added.Pasaribu confirmed that three people, comprising one local and two Singaporeans, lost their lives in the eruption. The Indonesian fatality was from Ternate, located in the same province as Mount Dukono.The bodies of the three victims are still on the volcano, as continuing eruptions and challenging landscape have hindered rescue teams from retrieving them, Pasaribu explained.The party was trapped when the volcano erupted at 7:41 a.m. local time, propelling an ash plume more than six miles into the air.Rescue units were dispatched after an emergency signal was received from the mountain region.By Friday afternoon, 17 climbers had been successfully rescued, National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari reported. This group included seven Singaporeans and two Indonesians who assisted in the rescue effort and gave details about the victims' climbing paths prior to the eruption.Five of the rescued individuals were noted to have injuries.Pasaribu stated that police intend to interrogate those who accompanied the hikers up the mountain. Digital has contacted the Indonesian National Police for further comment.The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program notes that Mount Dukono has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1933."Friday’s eruption ranks as one of the most powerful in this timeframe," said Lana Saria, head of the Geology Agency at Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.The Associated Press contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

(SeaPRwire) - Satellite imagery has shown a large suspected oil slick near Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, which experts suggest may indicate that Tehran’s oil infrastructure is under increasing strain due to heightened U.S. pressure.The slick, captured in Copernicus Sentinel satellite images between Wednesday and Friday, spanned approximately 45 square kilometers west of the island, according to analysts quoted by Reuters.This development appears to signal that President Trump’s maritime pressure strategy is meeting one of its main goals: overwhelming Iran’s export capabilities so much that Tehran can no longer efficiently move or store crude oil to maintain normal production levels.The suspected spill close to Iran’s principal oil hub is prompting concerns that escalating U.S. sanctions are exceeding Tehran’s capacity to store or export crude, potentially forcing hazardous operational changes with significant environmental repercussions in the Gulf region."At this point, I see two plausible explanations, and they might both be true," Miad Maleki, an expert on Iran sanctions and energy at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Digital."One possibility is operational: Iran did not reduce extraction quickly enough compared to its actual onshore capability and overestimated how many empty tankers could evade the blockade," he explained."As a result, they have effectively exceeded their export system’s capacity, with more oil reaching or accumulating at terminals than they can load, leading them to release some of the excess into the sea."Maleki also noted another potential cause: mechanical failure linked to Iran’s reliance on aging tankers used as floating storage units or vessels involved in sanctions evasion."They have deployed older, less reliable ships as floating storage or as carriers circumventing sanctions, and some of these retired or poorly maintained vessels are now leaking," he said.In either case, the underlying issue remains the same—there is a growing mismatch between storage and evacuation capabilities and upstream output, resulting in environmental damage across the Gulf.This incident occurs amid the Trump administration’s ongoing "Economic Fury" campaign against Iran, which combines strict sanctions enforcement with an expanding U.S. naval presence around the Strait of Hormuz aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.Prior to the conflict, Iran exported about 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, mostly to China. Analysts report that the blockade and threats of sanctions against shipping companies and financial institutions have made it increasingly difficult for Tehran to transport crude from Kharg Island.Reuters reported that the slick appeared as a "grey and white" plume located west of the 8-kilometer-long island.Leon Moreland, a researcher at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, told Reuters that the slick visually resembles oil, while Louis Goddard, co-founder of consultancy Data Desk, described it as possibly the largest spill since the start of the U.S.-Israel war against Iran around 70 days ago.Kharg Island manages roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports and has become a key strategic point in the Trump administration’s efforts to cut off the regime’s primary revenue stream during the current conflict.Energy analysts warn that Iran now faces a critical challenge. If the country cannot export its oil or secure additional storage, it may be forced to either shut down wells—risking long-term harm to oil fields—or dispose of surplus crude in ways that could lead to widespread environmental consequences throughout the Gulf."Iran has already reduced extraction. In a full-scale blockade scenario, the real limitation isn’t production at the wellhead, but rather the inability to load tankers at export terminals," Maleki stated."Once onshore storage approaches capacity, output must be reduced to align with available headroom or wells will be temporarily shut down," he added. "For Iran, this threshold is roughly 13 days."The environmental impact is also sparking alarm throughout the Gulf.Windward, a maritime risk intelligence firm, estimated that the slick was moving southeast at approximately 2 kilometers per hour and cautioned that it could enter Qatar’s exclusive economic zone within days and potentially drift toward the United Arab Emirates within two weeks.The region’s desalination infrastructure, vital for millions of residents, remains especially vulnerable to major oil contamination events.This spill is also occurring during a period of elevated military tensions in the Gulf. The conflict has trapped hundreds of vessels in the area and caused one of the most significant disruptions to global crude and liquefied natural gas supplies in recent years.Iranian officials have not issued any public statements regarding the suspected spill or its possible causes.Digital contacted the Iranian mission to the United Nations for comment.Reuters contributed to this report. This article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) makes no warranties or representations regarding its content. Category: Top News, Daily News SeaPRwire provides global press release distribution services for companies and organizations, covering more than 6,500 media outlets, 86,000 editors and journalists, and over 3.5 million end-user desktop and mobile apps. SeaPRwire supports multilingual press release distribution in English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Russian, Indonesian, Malay, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.