Residents of Tehran, a city of roughly 10 million people, woke on Sunday to thick black smoke, fires, and warnings of potentially hazardous rainfall after a series of airstrikes hit major oil storage facilities around the Iranian capital. The attacks mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, with energy infrastructure now directly targeted.
Oil depot explosions and massive fires
According to multiple reports, the strikes hit several fuel depots and petroleum storage sites in and around Tehran, including facilities that distribute fuel across the capital region. The explosions triggered large fires that burned for hours, sending plumes of black smoke and soot into the atmosphere and darkening the city’s skyline.
Israeli officials said the depots were used to supply Iran’s military infrastructure and therefore constituted legitimate military targets. Iranian officials, by contrast, condemned the strikes as attacks on civilian infrastructure and warned they could have severe environmental and humanitarian consequences.
Early reports indicate that several workers, including tanker drivers, were killed in the explosions, though the full casualty count is still unclear as authorities continue to assess damage.
Toxic smoke and “black rain”
The fires released large quantities of petroleum smoke and combustion products into the air. Iranian emergency authorities, including the Iranian Red Crescent Society, warned that these emissions contain hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds, and nitrogen oxides that can make the air hazardous to breathe.
As smoke spread across the city, residents reported dark precipitation described as “black rain” or oil-tainted rainfall. Experts say such precipitation can occur when soot and oily particles from large fires mix with moisture in the atmosphere before falling back to the ground.
Authorities cautioned that the rain could be acidic and potentially harmful to skin and lungs, urging people to stay indoors, avoid exposure to rainfall, and wear masks if they must go outside.
Residents described the situation as apocalyptic. Some reported difficulty breathing and irritation of the eyes and throat as the polluted air settled over neighborhoods far from the strike sites.
Wider war and regional escalation
The attacks on oil depots represent a widening of the conflict beyond military facilities to include strategic energy infrastructure. Analysts warn that such strikes could deepen economic damage and disrupt fuel supply within Iran.
The broader conflict has already spread across the region. Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel and targets in Gulf countries, including infrastructure in Bahrain.
Long-term environmental concerns
Beyond the immediate fires and smoke, scientists say large petroleum fires can release fine particulate matter and toxic compounds that linger in the atmosphere and environment. These pollutants can irritate the respiratory system and, with prolonged exposure, may contribute to longer-term health risks.
For now, the immediate concern in Tehran is the dense cloud of smoke and contaminated rainfall hanging over the city. As fires continue to burn and air quality deteriorates, residents are being advised to remain indoors while authorities attempt to contain the environmental fallout from the strikes.
If the conflict continues to target energy infrastructure, experts warn that environmental damage – and the risks to civilian populations – could become a defining feature of the war.