Israel Bombs Iranian Oil Depots; Toxic 'Black Rain' Falls Over Tehran

A series of Israeli airstrikes struck major Iranian oil storage and refinery facilities, igniting large fires and sending thick black smoke over Tehran; the blasts were followed by days of oily, acidic “black rain” that coated cars and rooftops and plunged parts of the city into a toxic gloom.

“What to know about 'black rain' that fell in Iran after strikes on oil reserves A dark cloud hovered over Tehran as massive amounts of fossil fuels burned”

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Sources reporting from Tehran described black, oily precipitation and a capital darkened by smoke a day after the strikes, and monitoring groups named the specific depots hit.

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Images and eyewitness accounts showed widespread plumes of smoke and an oily film on surfaces across the city, which reporters and officials described as apocalyptic and hazardous.

The strikes hit multiple sites, including four major facilities named by monitoring groups, and at least one Tehran refinery with large processing capacity; smoke and smouldering fires persisted for many hours after the attacks.

Reporting and monitoring groups listed the depots in Karaj, Shehran and Aghdasiyeh as well as a Tehran refinery, and noted that the Tehran facility alone can process roughly 225,000 barrels per day, underscoring the scale of the industrial damage and the potential for extensive pollution.

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Health authorities and humanitarian groups warned residents to shelter indoors and warned of acute respiratory and chemical burn risks from the fallout; international health bodies said the releases could have lasting effects.

“What to know about 'black rain' that fell in Iran after strikes on oil reserves A dark cloud hovered over Tehran as massive amounts of fossil fuels burned”

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The Iranian Red Crescent cautioned people about severe health risks, local officials advised face masks, and the World Health Organization warned that the “massive release” of hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides and nitrogen compounds and the black and acid rain are dangerous and could cause long-term health effects, especially for children, the elderly and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Scientists and environmental experts warned of long-term ecological and infrastructural consequences: toxic compounds from burning oil and building materials could contaminate air, soil and groundwater and accelerate corrosion of structures already exposed to poor air quality.

Experts cited the release of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, heavy metals, particulate matter and persistent ('forever') chemicals from burning facilities and building materials, warning these pollutants can persist, travel on winds, and eventually deposit back into water and soil, creating protracted human and ecological health risks.

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The strikes and their fallout occurred amid a wider, escalating regional conflict described by several outlets as a multi-front campaign that has drawn in neighbouring states and provoked international concern; reporters framed the strikes as part of a broader offensive that has led to retaliatory actions and heightened diplomatic tensions.

“What to know about 'black rain' that fell in Iran after strikes on oil reserves A dark cloud hovered over Tehran as massive amounts of fossil fuels burned”

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Reporting said the assaults were tied to a wider US-Israeli campaign and that the fallout had terrorised nearby cities, while eyewitness and correspondent descriptions captured the immediate human impact in Tehran and the region as the war widened.

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