Tehran - Various parts of Iran, including Tehran, were paralyzed on Monday by pollution forcing Iranian government to declare public holiday for Tuesday, state media reported. The Emergency Committee for Tehran's Air Pollution said that owing to dust originating from western parts of the country, all government offices, military organs and revolutionary institutions would be closed in Tehran on Tuesday.
The dust and haze sweeping in from the deserts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia also hit cities in western, southwestern, central, and northwestern Iran on Sunday, bringing life to a standstill.
After pollution levels Monday reached nine times above the normal level, the committee ordered industrial units and centres to be shut down for at least two days.
The committee further predicted that the holidays would likely be extended and called on citizens to avoid exercise in parks and squares, in order not to expose themselves to the danger.
People with respiratory and heart diseases have been advised to remain indoors, or even temporarily to leave the polluted areas.
Several cities saw people forced to wear masks, while several air flights to western and southwestern destinations had to be cancelled owing to poor visibility.
Iran's environment chief Fateme Vaez-Javadi has visited Baghdad to discuss the problem with the Iraqi officials including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
