Black Rain Falls on Tehran After Israeli Strikes Hit Oil Depots

This article was prepared from the source material provided, which includes reports from Time, AirQualityNews, CNN, and the Guardian, as well as statements from the Red Crescent Society and individuals in Tehran.

An acidic black rain has fallen over Tehran after Israeli missile strikes destroyed four oil depots and a gasoline logistics site, killing six people and igniting fires that sent plumes of black smoke miles into the air. The rain, which residents and officials described as dark and oil-saturated, has compounded an already severe environmental situation in the Iranian capital.

The strikes, which occurred over the weekend, unleashed what one Iranian journalist described as an "apocalyptic" scene. As the smoke filled the air, Iranians reported difficulty breathing, headaches, skin damage, and eye and throat irritation, according to Time. "Something like a black monster has swallowed the sky over Tehran," a Tehran resident named Leila told the magazine. "It's as if all the cars and the street pavement have been coated in black paint."

The Iranian arm of the Red Crescent Society warned residents that the rain would likely be "highly dangerous and acidic," and could cause "chemical burns of the skin and serious damage to the lungs." According to AirQualityNews, the precipitation could register pH levels as low as 4.0, roughly the acidity of apple cider—below the lethal level for most fish species and carrying long-term consequences for plant biomass. Given the source of the pollutants, the outlet noted the rain is likely also full of toxins including hydrocarbons, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN's senior international correspondent in Tehran, shared a video showing the aftermath. "You can see that the rain water is actually black, also saturated, it appears, with oil," Pleitgen explained, wiping the ground with his shoe to show the accumulation. "That's what's coming down this morning, this sort of oil-filled rain."

The black rain follows a devastating combination of air strikes, blistering dust storms, and a six-year drought. An anonymous Iranian journalist told the Guardian that even masks were becoming difficult to find. "I ask those who have the ability, especially foreign media, to reflect on this situation," the journalist said. "What are people supposed to do under these conditions? This is truly a crime against humanity."