Iran Working to Control Oil Spill off Kharg Island, Says IRNA

A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
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Iran Working to Control Oil Spill off Kharg Island, Says IRNA

A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)
A veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, 07 October 2024. (EPA)

Iranian authorities are working to control an oil spill four miles (6.4 kilometers) off Iran's Kharg Island, the country's IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

The leak from oil pipelines was reported on Sunday and the required actions have been taken, IRNA cited a local official as saying.

"Two other spots have been identified by drones", IRNA said, adding that procedures had been activated to stop the pollution spreading and the situation was being continuously assessed.

Iran is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with production of around 3.2 million barrels per day, or about 3% of global output.

Most of Iran's oil and gas is in the south of the country, where the Kharg Island terminal is situated and from which around 90% of Iranian oil exports are shipped.



Man Arrested in Israel over Alleged Iranian Plot against a Scientist

 People take shelter as sirens sound in central Israel in response to what the Israel's military says projectiles fired from Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 14, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter as sirens sound in central Israel in response to what the Israel's military says projectiles fired from Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 14, 2024. (Reuters)
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Man Arrested in Israel over Alleged Iranian Plot against a Scientist

 People take shelter as sirens sound in central Israel in response to what the Israel's military says projectiles fired from Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 14, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter as sirens sound in central Israel in response to what the Israel's military says projectiles fired from Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel October 14, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli authorities say they have arrested a man who was involved in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate an Israeli scientist.

In a statement released Wednesday, the Shin Bet internal security agency said Iran paid 35-year-old Vladimir Verhovski $100,000 to kill an Israeli scientist. It did not provide evidence or name the target of the alleged plot.

Iran has accused Israel of being behind the targeted killing of scientists involved in its nuclear program.

The Shin Bet said Verhovski had acquired a gun, cartridge and bullets, and agreed to flee to Russia afterwards. It said he had also gathered information at the direction of Iran.

It’s one of several alleged plots the Shin Bet says it has foiled in recent months that involved Israelis accused of having been recruited by Iran.

Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war for years that burst to the surface after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack triggered the war in Gaza. Israel and Iran exchanged fire directly for the first time in April, and Israel has vowed to retaliate after an Iranian ballistic missile attack earlier this month.

Iran supports armed groups across the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.