Weekend Alert: Air Pollution Prompts Widespread School and Office Closures Across Iran
Tehran, Iran – A significant air pollution crisis is impacting multiple Iranian provinces, leading authorities to actively consider widespread closures of schools and government offices for the upcoming Saturday. The affected regions include Tehran, Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Isfahan, Razavi Khorasan, as well as the central provinces of Markazi and Qom, as officials grapple with deteriorating air quality.
The decision follows a pattern of environmental measures, with schools in six cities of Khuzestan province having already been closed in recent days due to hazardous air conditions. The situation is now under urgent review for a broader range of urban centers.
Khuzestan Braces for Continued Closures
Forecasts indicate that air pollution levels in Khuzestan province are expected to remain critically high. Consequently, there is a strong possibility that schools in six cities—including Hoveyzeh, Dasht-e Azadegan, Hamidiyeh, Ahvaz, Bavi, and Karun—will remain closed on Saturday. The province has been contending with a persistent dust cloud since the start of the current month, severely disrupting daily life. The pollution poses a particular threat to vulnerable groups, including cardiac patients, schoolchildren, and the elderly, prompting the preemptive closure measures.
Tehran’s Precarious Air Quality
In the capital, Tehran, the situation is also being closely monitored. There is a distinct possibility that primary schools will be closed due to the sustained poor air quality. However, the closure of middle schools and high schools is considered less likely at this stage. This assessment comes despite a recent sharp increase in Tehran’s air pollution index, which reached dangerous levels, particularly due to incoming dust storms. While previous episodes did not result in closures, the current evaluations suggest a more cautious approach for the weekend.
Authorities continue to assess the environmental data to make final, timely decisions aimed at safeguarding public health, especially that of the most susceptible citizens.
