Heads of govt. branches to meet on air pollution, possible quake

TEHRAN – President Rouhani as well as Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani will meet within a month to exchange views on air pollution and possibility of a strong earthquake in Tehran, MP Mohammad Ali Vakili announced on Saturday.

Clean air lasted for hours, air pollution is on the rise again

TEHRAN — While the rain and wind come to rescue Tehraners after a week of persisting air pollution, the clean air didn’t last for more than a few hours. The air quality went down again.

Wind, rain come to Tehraners' rescue, but air pollution is in the offing

TEHRAN — After a week of suffering from suffocating air pollution people in the metropolis of Tehran can finally breathe clean air on the first day of winter. 

“Behind the Scenes” troupe counters Tehran air pollution 

TEHRAN – A troupe performing French writer Florian Zeller’s play “Behind the Scenes” (“L’envers du décor”) at Tehran’s Shahrzad Hall protested against the air pollution in the metropolis by a poster that depicts the cast members wearing gas masks against an image of the city choked with smog.

Environment chief says ‘tough decisions” needed to tackle air pollution

TEHRAN – Isa Kalantari, chief of the Department of Environment, said on Wednesday that “tough decisions” should be taken to counter air pollution in the country, especially in big cities.

Tehran Municipality welcomes startup ideas to mitigate air pollution

TEHRAN – Tehran Municipality embraces new, innovative startup ideas to face the persistent challenge of air pollution, director of Tehran Municipality’s ICT organization said on Tuesday.

Rouhani: Shorter dole queues a civil right

TEHRAN – In an address to a national summit on civil rights on Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underscored better employment as an instance of civil rights.

Remedies of Iranian traditional medicine for days of pollution

TEHRAN - Never-ending air pollution in Tehran and other metropolises of Iran is nothing new. According to the Iranian traditional medicine, fresh and healthy air is one of the principals for healthy lifestyle.

Tehran’s football matches cancelled due to air pollution

TEHRAN – Two football matches in Hazfi Cup were postponed because of air pollution in Tehran, capital of Iran.

By M.A. Saki

Populist approaches won’t solve air pollution

Metropolises in Iran are grappling with air pollution. Sometimes air pollution in Tehran with about 10 million population reaches a dangerous toxic level.  

Gasoline quality test period slashed to a week

TEHRAN — Iran’s Department of Environment (DOE) has decreased the period of gasoline quality checks in eight metropolises from three months to a week.

Carbureted motorcycles cause 19% of air pollution in Tehran: official

TEHRAN — Carbureted motorcycles account for more than 19 percent of pollutants in the capital, head of the national center for air quality and climate change affiliated with the Department of Environment, said on Tuesday.

Choking smoke envelopes Ahwaz; pollution far beyond hazardous

TEHRAN — The southwestern city of Ahwaz, Khuzestan province, is once again wreathed in a haze of smoke, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

Homegrown hybrid, electric vehicles exempt from VAT

TEHRAN — The Iranian Tax Administration has exempted domestically manufactured hybrid and electric vehicles from value added tax (VAT), IRNA reported on Sunday.

Air pollution: what to eat, what not to eat!

TEHRAN — Never-ending air pollution in Tehran and other metropolises of Iran is nothing new.

By Bahman Naghadeh

Trading citizens’ health for indecisiveness 

Is there any prospect for ending air pollution in big cities, especially Tehran? I doubt. How can it be possible to counter air pollution when there is no strong will among responsible officials or bodies to take bitter and crucial decisions?

Tehran Municipality to launch ‘clean air’ transportation initiative

TEHRAN — Levying road tax, setting up light rail transit (LRT) and expanding subway lines are the main parts of an initiative Tehran Municipality has launched to address air pollution and traffic congestion in the capital.

Tehrani citizens enjoy best air quality in 8 years

TEHRAN – Air quality in Tehran was the best in the first month of autumn this year compared to the past eight years, the head of the National Climate Center at the Department of Environment announced on Thursday.

JICA pledges $7m to address Tehran’s air pollution

TEHRAN — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged $7 million to tackle the everlasting air pollution in the metropolis of Tehran, IRIB reported on Monday.

‘Mass public transit a solution to Tehran air pollution, traffic jam’

TEHRAN — The expansion of mass public transit fleet is a fundamental solution to the persisting air pollution and traffic congestion in the metropolis of Tehran, councilor Mohsen Hashemi said.

Vehicle inspection system becomes stricter

TEHRAN – Cars are now being checked up stricter in vehicle inspection centers across the country with a focus on catalyst inspection and emissions control, the deputy chief of Iran’s Department of Environment said.

Tehraners to pay taxi fares electronically

TEHRAN — People in the city of Tehran will be able to pay taxi fares electronically by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2018).

Clean air bill projected to create 10,000 green jobs

TEHRAN — The clean air bill, proposed by the Department of Environment to curb air pollution, is projected to generate some 10,000 green jobs over the course of the sixth five-year national development plan (2016-2021), an environmental official said.

HOVs to ease traffic congestion, air pollution in Tehran

TEHRAN — Tehran Municipality is planning on introducing high-occupancy vehicle lanes in two of the expressways in the capital with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.

Tehran experiences good air quality for 20 days in a row

TEHRAN — Tehran’s air quality has been good since April 16 and fortunately cars could not negatively affect the air quality for the last 20 days, Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Tehrani citizens waste 200 hours per year in traffic: councilor

TEHRAN – Tehrani citizens waste an overall 200 hours per year of their life in traffic congestion, the head of environment committee of the City Council of Tehran has said.