Smog shrouds Tehran's Milad Tower (Borj-e Milad), the world's sixth-tallest tower at 435 meters, as severe air pollution blankets the Iranian capital on Wednesday. AFP
Students and civil servants in parts of Iran were instructed to stay home on Wednesday and Thursday due to "unhealthy" air pollution, according to state media. Tehran, a city frequently plagued by high pollution levels, has been engulfed in smog recently. The capital lies in the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains, which trap polluted air over the city. This phenomenon, known as thermal inversion, is most severe during winter when cold air and a lack of wind keep hazardous smog lingering for days.
On Wednesday, local media reported that Tehran's air quality had reached "unhealthy" levels, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 170. All museums and banks, except for specific branches, were closed in the capital. The iconic Milad Tower, standing at 435 meters, was barely visible on Wednesday morning. Pollution also affected other major cities, including Isfahan in central Iran and Tabriz in the northwest. Ahvaz in the southwest has also been experiencing high pollution levels, as reported by state television.
Local media attributed the pollution to the dilapidated state of some industrial infrastructure, an ageing vehicle fleet, and poor-quality gasoline. In recent weeks, the government has also pointed to the fuel used in certain power plants as a contributing factor. According to Iranian Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi, air pollution is responsible for the premature deaths of approximately 50,000 people across the country each year. In recent years, Iranian authorities have repeatedly closed schools in Tehran, including a week-long closure in 2019, due to air quality concerns.
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