Rouhani faces pressure to address crippling smog in Tehran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani continues to take political pressure for being unable to address three weeks of smog that has shut down schools.
After political pressure over air pollution that shut down the capital for multiple days in the month of December, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced short-term measures to combat smog.
At a Cabinet meeting Dec. 30, Rouhani said that air pollution impacts Iran every year and short-term solutions will not completely end the problem. However, due to the fact the impact of pollution has been more tangible in recent days, short-term measures are necessary in order for people to sense that there is progress on the issue.
Severe air pollution in Tehran has caused schools and government buildings to close a number of times since Dec. 19. The Air Quality Index has read as high as 162, whereas according to the World Health Organization the recommended level is zero to 50.
Mohammad Rastegari, deputy head of Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization for Monitoring and Supervision, said Dec. 29 that Tehran’s air was “unhealthy for all individuals.” Typically during heavy smog days Iranian officials recommend that children, the elderly and the ill stay indoors.
