Air pollution forces closure of state institutions in Iran

ISTANBUL

Air pollution in Iran forced the closure of state institutions in the Bojnurd and Mashhad cities on Tuesday.

"Due to the air pollution exceeding 300 micrograms/cubic meter, state institutions were suspended in Bojnurd after 10:00 today," North Khorasan crisis management manager, Gholam Reza Shafiq, was quoted by Tasnim News Agency as saying.

For his part, Mahdi Divinepour, Razavi Khorasan province’s environmental protection manager, said that air pollution in Mashhad is at the level of 236 micrograms/cubic meter due to the dust storm. Government institutions and schools were also closed in the province.

The Iranian official called on the people, especially patients with heart and respiratory diseases, to stay at their homes.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat