Tehran, Iran - Iran's foreign ministry on Monday blamed pollution in the Persian Gulf on ongoing US military operations in the region, particularly following recent oil spills.

"This environmental damage stems from the US military presence and the wars it has waged in the region over the past five decades," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a news briefing on Monday

"The damage caused to the environment of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is not solely linked to this war," he said.

He called for the US to be held accountable, estimating the damage at "trillions of dollars" over several decades.

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Last week, Iran called for compensation after an oil slick in the Strait of Hormuz reached the island of Qeshm, affecting beaches and an environmentally sensitive mangrove forest.

At the time, Baqaei cited preliminary evidence identifying "a foreign bulk carrier" as the source of the spill, which Iranian officials later said had been "completely cleaned up."

Earlier, Omani state media reported that an oil slick from a tanker that ran aground off Oman had reached the coastline.

An AFP investigation previously found that the vessel had been stranded for weeks near Oman's Al-Qibliyyah island after it was damaged by explosions linked to the US and Israel's war on Iran.

President Donald Trump on Friday said he would "soon" declare the Strat of Hormuz part of US territory.

"After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated – pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States," he said.

Iran fired back in response, on Saturday declaring the Strait will "has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian."