Thick smoke blanketed Tehran, Iran, on Sunday morning following Israeli strikes on oil facilities in the capital, with residents reporting the smell of burning and oil-saturated raindrops.
Environmental and Health Concerns
Iranian environmental authorities have urged residents to remain indoors to avoid respiratory problems and other health consequences. The Iranian Red Crescent reported the explosions released “significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides” into the air, warning that any resulting precipitation would be “extremely dangerous and highly acidic,” potentially causing skin burns and severe lung damage.
Details of the Strikes
Fars news agency reported that Saturday’s strikes hit four oil storage facilities and an oil production transfer center in Tehran and Alborz. Four tanker drivers at the transfer center were killed, according to the report.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the targeted fuel depots served Iran’s military, alleging they were used to operate military infrastructure and distribute fuel to military entities. The IDF characterized the strike as a step to “deepen the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terror regime.”
Impact on Daily Life
Videos showed pillars of fire rising from the facilities Saturday night, marking what appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility had been targeted in the conflict. On Sunday morning, the sun was obscured, forcing residents to turn on lights. A driver in his 50s told AFP he initially thought his alarm clock was broken. By 10:30 a.m. local time, cars still required headlights on Valiasr Street, and security forces directed traffic while wearing protective coats and masks.
The CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Keramat Veyskarami, reported that four personnel, including two oil tanker drivers, were killed in the strikes. He stated the facilities were damaged but the fires were brought under control, and that Iran’s oil depots had “sufficient gasoline reserves.”
Economic and Regional Implications
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned Sunday that oil prices would likely continue to soar, impacting the global economy as long as the conflict continues. Oil prices have already risen since the attacks began on Feb. 28, reaching levels not seen since 2023.
Tehran’s governor, Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, said fuel distribution in the capital was temporarily interrupted but was being resolved. Fuel distribution was limited to 20 liters per vehicle, resulting in long lines at petrol stations.
Meanwhile, Iran struck Gulf infrastructure on Sunday, hitting fuel tanks at Kuwait’s international airport and damaging a desalination plant in Bahrain. Kuwait reported the airport fire was brought under control with no significant injuries, while Bahrain accused Iran of randomly targeting civilian infrastructure.
Bahrain’s national communication office stated the attack on the water desalination facility had no impact on water supplies or network capacity.
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