Hamid Bovard said Saturday, Aug. 15, that NIOC has very limited facilities on Qeshm Island, which are currently inactive due to maintenance work. The company does not have extensive oil production facilities in the area, he told reporters.

“If there are oil slicks, their cause could be linked to the US-Israeli enemy and the war they have launched in the region,” Bovard said. He added that tankers or other vessels passing through the Persian Gulf could potentially be responsible.

Bovard rejected reports by what he called hostile media outlets alleging that oil had been discharged into the sea, saying such claims are technically unfounded and contrary to the assessments of informed experts.

He said operations at all oil facilities are being properly managed through coordination among various divisions of the Oil Ministry and NIOC under the leadership of Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad.

“There is no pollution in the oil production or loading cycle,” Bovard said.