A massive oil spill has been detected near Kharg Island, a key hub of Iran’s oil export operations located in the Gulf, north of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Satellite images released by Orbital EOS show a large oil slick spreading across the waters near the island, raising concerns over environmental damage and regional maritime safety.

According to Orbital EOS, the spill has already spread across more than 52 square kilometres, or nearly 20 square miles. The agency, which tracks oil spills through satellite monitoring, shared the information with The New York Times. The spill was reportedly visible in satellite images captured between May 6 and May 8.

Reports suggest that the oil slick is gradually moving southward towards Saudi Arabian waters. However, the exact source of the spill has not yet been identified. Authorities have not confirmed whether the spill was caused by an accident, infrastructure damage, or any other reason. The lack of clarity over its origin has added to concerns surrounding the situation.

The development comes during a sensitive period in relations between the United States and Iran. The United States is currently waiting for Iran’s response to a proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. US President Donald Trump earlier said that his administration expected to hear back from Tehran on Friday night.

"We’ll hear from them supposedly tonight," Trump told CNN. When asked whether he believed Iran was intentionally delaying negotiations, Trump responded that he was uncertain. "We’ll find out soon enough," he said. As of Saturday morning Eastern time, there had been no clear confirmation on whether Iran had officially responded to the proposal from the United States.

Trump also spoke about the possibility of restarting a maritime security operation aimed at guiding ships safely through the strategic waterway. The operation had been paused earlier in the week after what Trump described as progress in negotiations with Iran. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, making any disruption in the region significant for global energy markets.

The US President said the operation could return in an expanded form under a new initiative called "Project Freedom plus." Speaking to reporters at the White House before travelling to a dinner at his golf course in Sterling, Virginia, Trump explained that the renewed mission would include additional measures beyond the earlier operation.

"We'll go a different route if everything doesn't get signed up, buttoned up," Trump said. "I think Project Freedom is good, but I think we have other ways of doing it also. We may go back to Project Freedom if things don't happen, but it'd be Project Freedom plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things," he added.

The combination of a growing oil spill and rising tensions in the Gulf region has drawn attention to the strategic importance of the area. Kharg Island plays a major role in Iran’s oil exports, and any disruption around the island or the Strait of Hormuz can affect international shipping and energy supplies.

As the oil slick continues to spread, questions remain over the environmental impact of the spill and the response measures that may follow. At the same time, diplomatic uncertainty between Washington and Tehran continues to keep the region under close international watch.