Is the air quality good in Tehran, Iran?
On September 20, 2025, at 2:30 AM PT, Tehran, Iran, is experiencing poor air quality with an AQI of 128, classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Multi-year monitoring shows that annual PM10 averages have increased slightly while PM2.5 averages remain well above World Health Organization guideline levels, producing frequent days in the moderate-to-hazardous range and only a handful of clean-air days in the recent year (1).
Air quality is dynamic and, like the weather, can change frequently. Tehran ranked as the 4th most polluted major city in the world on Saturday morning (local time).
Click here for a real-time air quality map of Tehran.
Tehran, Iran ranked as the 5th most polluted major city on September 20, 2025, at 2:30 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
When will air quality improve in Tehran?
Short-term improvements depend largely on meteorological factors such as wind speed, precipitation, and atmospheric mixing. Conditions are expected to improve later today, with air quality forecasted to drop below the 100 AQI.
Hourly air quality forecast for Tehran, Iran on September 20, 2025. Source: IQAir.
Periods of stronger winds and rainfall typically lead to temporary reductions in pollutant concentrations, but sustained improvement requires reductions in emissions from power generation, transport, and industry.
Historical reporting indicates that many recent improvements were weather-driven rather than structural, so long-term air quality gains will need policy and operational changes. (3)
Air quality map of Tehran, Iran on September 20, 2025, at 2:30 AM PT. Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Tehran?
Tehran’s elevated particulate levels arise from multiple, interacting sources:
- Energy-sector emissions, recent reliance on heavy fuel oil and mazut in power plants has been identified as a major contributor to urban smog episodes.
- Traffic and transport emissions, a large vehicle fleet with many older diesel vehicles increases NOx and primary particulate output.
- Industrial and stationary sources located in and around the metropolitan region.
- Natural dust transport and resuspension from surrounding deserts and dry areas, which elevate PM10 regional loads seasonally.
Analyses and reporting emphasize that fuel choices and systemic energy-policy decisions have materially worsened episodic pollution, amplifying health impacts across the city (2).
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
