Cartoon by Elham Azar

Severe air pollution grips Tehran and Khuzestan despite rainfall

Iran International: Air quality deteriorated sharply in parts of Iran despite recent rainfall, pushing pollution levels in three cities in Khuzestan province and southeastern Tehran province into the red and prompting health warnings for all residents.

Monitoring data on Saturday showed air quality in Varamin, Pishva and Qarchak in southeast Tehran province remained unhealthy for all groups, indicating that Friday’s rainfall had little impact on reducing pollutants in those areas.

Experts attributed the persistence of pollution to local geography, emission sources and weak atmospheric ventilation.

Schools in the three affected districts continued operating normally on Saturday, with no mitigation or protective measures announced, according to local reports.

In southwestern Iran, air quality indices in several Khuzestan cities reached red levels, with readings of 174 in Ahvaz, 176 in Abadan, 152 in Dezful and 161 in Mahshahr. Provincial environmental authorities said air in Ahvaz, Khorramshahr and several other cities was recorded as unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Conditions were more severe in Dehdasht, in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, where the air pollution index reached 500, placing it in the brown category, considered dangerous for all individuals.

Data from Ilam province showed pollution indices of 164 in Mehran, despite forecasts of a weak but cold rain system affecting the area into early Sunday.

In Semnan province, provincial meteorological chief Iraj Mostafavi said the city of Semnan was in red status and unhealthy for all residents, urging people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.

Air quality across Tehran and several other Iranian cities has remained largely in orange or red categories in recent weeks.

Authorities have yet to implement a sustained or effective solution to curb air pollution in the capital and other major cities, relying mainly on temporary closures and short-term measures as unhealthy conditions persist.