Tehran is experiencing its worst pollution wave in years, with the Ministry of Health estimating 59,000 annual deaths linked to poor air quality, while the crisis is costing the country more than $17 billion per year.

Vice President Mohammad Jafar Qambaneh warned that the smog “will kill” if the situation continues, after schools and universities were shut down and the capital entered the red-alert zone.

The crisis comes amid political unrest and severe water shortages, intensifying pressure on the government and fueling public protests.