new restrictions in tehran after 18th day of bad air
Saturday 5 July 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

New restrictions in Tehran after 18th day of bad air

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleNew restrictions in Tehran after 18th day of bad air

An Iranian traffic policeman wearing a mask for protection against air pollution directs cars
Tehran - AFP

More than two weeks of heavy pollution led Iranian officials to ban all outdoor sport and impose new traffic restrictions Wednesday as persistent cold weather exacerbated Tehran's air quality problems.

In the worst concerted period of pollution for three years, primary schools and nurseries were closed and new car exclusion zones imposed in the capital.

Tehran's air quality index averaged 159 on Wednesday, up two from the previous day, and more than three times the World Health Organization's advised maximum of between zero and 50.

At such levels people are advised not to leave home unless absolutely necessary.

One area in northeastern Tehran peaked at 238 on the pollution index and President Hassan Rouhani addressed the issue at a meeting of his cabinet as concern rises about health risks.

"The problem has been around for years and cannot be entirely tackled in a short time," he was quoted by the official IRNA as saying.

IRNA reported that Wednesday was the 18th straight day of dangerously bad air while newspapers quoted officials casting blame on each other for the problem and failure to tackle it.
"Our preference was to close all schools but the education ministry insisted on keeping high schools open because of final term exams," said Mohammad Heydarzadeh, secretary of Tehran's emergency air pollution committee.

The cold weather is causing climate inversion -- where emissions from car exhausts hang in the air rather than rising into the atmosphere above.

A decade-long central restriction zone based on car number plates was in place across the city on Wednesday, traffic police announced.

Vehicles with plates ending in an odd number can't go out on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday, while cars with even numbered plates are banned on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Sand and cement factories around the capital have been banned from operating until Friday, the end of the Iranian week, and all outdoor sport including professional football league matches has been called off.

Exhaust fumes from the five million cars and almost as many motorcycles on Tehran's roads account for 80 percent of its pollution, officials say.

Two permanent zones of traffic restrictions introduced in 1979 and 2005 have failed to rectify the sprawling city's poor air quality.

While Tehran is the epicentre of the problem, primary schools in other major cities including Isfahan, Qom, Arak and Tabriz were also forced to close.

Weather forecasters predicted that air quality would improve after expected rainfall on Wednesday evening.

Last December, almost 400 people were hospitalised with heart and respiratory problems caused by heavy pollution in Tehran, with nearly 1,500 others requiring treatment.

In 2012, pollution contributed to the premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran and about 80,000 in the country, the health ministry said.

 

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

new restrictions in tehran after 18th day of bad air new restrictions in tehran after 18th day of bad air

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 08:26 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Five things to know about Davos

GMT 12:49 2014 Sunday ,22 June

Egypt to attract Arab tourism

GMT 12:39 2015 Tuesday ,30 June

Merkel unaware of new EU proposal on Greece

GMT 11:53 2016 Saturday ,17 December

Ko has no regrets leaving instructor Leadbetter

GMT 12:46 2017 Monday ,31 July

Hair for the Gods ends up on thinning heads

GMT 16:06 2014 Saturday ,18 October

6 things everyone needs to stop doing at work

GMT 19:07 2017 Friday ,10 March

Long-awaited concert music to Saudi ears

GMT 17:04 2016 Friday ,11 November

Thousands step out for Walk 2016

GMT 09:43 2017 Monday ,27 November

Iran, Turkey sign deal with Qatar

GMT 19:42 2016 Monday ,10 October

Closing session of Sudanese dialogue kicks off
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle