Arabic version: طهران تواجه تلوثًا غير مسبوق بعد الضربات الجوية

According to BBC News,

Air strikes on oil facilities in Tehran have resulted in significant pollution, including reports of ‘black rain,’ according to scientists. Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began on 28 February, strikes have targeted at least four oil facilities, leading to health warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Residents have reported that smog and pollution have blocked out the Sun and left a strong smell of burning in parts of the city. Satellite images reveal that two major oil sites in Tehran are still on fire following reported air strikes overnight on Saturday. These strikes have raised alarms about the scale of pollutants released into the atmosphere, which experts describe as potentially unprecedented.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it hit ‘fuel depots’ near Tehran in a post on X on 7 March, although the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment. The combination of incomplete combustion of oil and the variety of chemicals involved in oil refining has raised concerns about severe air pollution. Experts warn that the pollution in Tehran is markedly different from typical urban smog.

Residents have described the fallout as ‘black rain,’ which occurs when rainwater collects pollutants from the air, turning it dark. This phenomenon is rare and suggests a high level of air contamination. The WHO has expressed serious concerns regarding the health impacts of this pollution, particularly for vulnerable populations.

As the situation develops, weather forecasts indicate spells of rain on Tuesday and again from Thursday onwards, which may help disperse some pollutants. However, experts caution that the risks associated with the pollution could linger, affecting waterways and air quality for an extended period.