Gulf oil spill fast becoming worst in years, agencies warn

A grounded tanker carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian crude has created a rapidly growing oil slick off Oman — satellite analysts say it may now cover up to ~2,000 sq km and is reaching the mainland.
The spill threatens a marine nature reserve (endangered turtles, humpback whales, coral reefs) and, if the whole cargo is lost, could rival major disasters like the Exxon Valdez.
Response is hampered by war- and sanctions-related complications (the ship is part of a “shadow fleet,” treated as an “act of war” and lacking Western insurance) and by seasonal conditions, raising fears of an inadequate cleanup.