Iranian Schools Closed Amid Air Pollution Surge

Iranian authorities have closed schools in Tehran and several other provinces due to a surge in air pollution.

In the capital, all primary and secondary schools are closed on December 4, while children, pregnant women and individuals with heart or lung conditions are advised to avoid outdoor activities and wear masks in the streets.

The deputy coordinator for civil affairs of Alborz also announced the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the province.

Mansour Shishehfarosh, director-general of Crisis Management of Isfahan, said that all educational institutions in the province will be closed.

The Tehran Air Quality Control Company announced that the air pollution index reached 153 on the evening of December 3. 

An index of 101-200 is considered “unhealthy.”

The head of the National Meteorological Organization warned of worsening air pollution in Tehran until December 7.

Since the beginning of the year, Tehran has experienced only nine days of clean air, 179 days of acceptable air quality, 62 days of unhealthy air for sensitive populations, and seven days of unhealthy air for all groups.

Officials cite various reasons for the worsening air quality, but no effective plan has been implemented to address the crisis.

According to Mehdi Pirhadi, the head of the Health, Environment, and Urban Services Commission at the Tehran City Council, air pollution caused 6,398 deaths in the capital in 2021.