Toxic smoke blankets Tehran after Israel bombs fuel depots

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Thick clouds of toxic smoke blanketed Iran’s capital on Sunday after Israel bombed several fuel depots and oil facilities, sparking fires that burned for hours and sent pollution drifting across large parts of the city.

Images from Tehran showed towering plumes of dark smoke rising above the skyline as emergency crews struggled to contain the fires. Residents in the metropolitan area of nearly 10 million people said the smoke spread widely across northern districts and nearby towns.

Some residents reported unusual black-stained rainfall following the strikes, with oily residue covering vehicles, streets and rooftops miles away from the targeted fuel storage sites.

“The rain is black,” said Kianoosh, a Tehran engineer who lives several miles from the facilities. “It’s falling even in neighborhoods far from the oil tanks.”

Authorities warned that the pollution could pose health risks. Iran’s Red Crescent Society said rainfall mixed with pollutants from burning fuel could be highly acidic and extremely harmful to human health, cautioning that exposure may cause skin irritation and respiratory damage.

Residents described severe breathing discomfort and eye irritation as the smoke lingered over the city. Leila, a teacher in Tehran, was quoted by the Times news as saying the atmosphere had become difficult to tolerate.

“The air is almost unbreathable,” she said, adding that even brief exposure outdoors caused headaches and burning sensations in the throat and eyes.

Another resident, Ahmad, said the heavy pollution forced him to leave the capital temporarily.

State media reported that several energy facilities were struck during the overnight raids, including the Aghdasieh fuel storage complex in northeast Tehran, the Shahran oil depot north of the city, an oil refinery in southern Tehran and an oil depot in Karaj, west of the capital.

The Israeli military confirmed responsibility for the strikes, saying it had targeted fuel storage facilities belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which it claimed were used to supply fuel to military units.

The attacks represent one of the most significant strikes on Iran’s industrial infrastructure since the United States and Israel launched a major military campaign against the country on February 28.

The conflict has already killed more than 1,000 civilians in Iran and triggered widespread damage to homes, schools and hospitals, according to Iranian officials.

The strikes came as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could intensify its military campaign against Iran. In a social media message, Trump said additional targets were being considered and that Iran could face heavier bombing.

Iran has responded to the US-Israeli offensive by launching waves of missiles and drones toward Israel and Gulf countries hosting American military bases.

Iranian officials accused the United States and Israel of releasing hazardous materials into the atmosphere by striking fuel depots, warning that such attacks threaten civilian health and the environment.

Meanwhile, the conflict has expanded across the region, with Israel also bombing residential areas in Lebanon while Iranian missile strikes continue against Israeli and American targets in the Gulf.

Analysts warn that attacks on energy and industrial infrastructure could worsen humanitarian conditions in major cities such as Tehran, where millions already face the combined pressures of war damage, economic disruption and environmental pollution.