Dust storm attack on Iran
Dust storm attack on Iran
In recent years, Iran has sunk into the dust storm crisis more than ever before.
However, what is happening in the dark skies of this country is not just dust particles but an echo of decades of environmental mismanagement, anti-development policies, and inability to face climate challenges.
A phenomenon that today targets not only health and economy but also the social structures and biological security of this country.
Where do the dust particles originate?
A large portion of Iran’s dust storms have external origins. Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and even North Africa, especially during times of political instability, civil war, and infrastructure collapse, have become active centers of dust production.
Abdolkarim Hosseinzadeh, Iran’s Vice President for Rural Development and Deprived Areas, has stated that 60 to 80 percent of the dust particles in the country have external origins and should be managed through negotiations with neighboring countries.
The drying of Mesopotamian wetlands, abandoned agricultural lands, and reduced vegetation have created conditions where dust storms cross borders without any obstacle and settle in central regions of Iran.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s hydro-political policies, by constructing large dams on the Tigris and Euphrates, have played a significant role in drying up the region’s vital wetlands.
However, Iran not only lacks influence in regional relations but also has a weak and ineffective presence in international environmental forums and treaties.
The absence of environmental diplomacy has made Iran vulnerable to crises that it is unable to control.
The dusty roots of a disaster
The dust storm crisis in Iran has arisen from chronic neglect of climatic capacities and mismanagement of natural resources.
Hasty development without environmental considerations has led to soil erosion, widespread dam construction, deforestation, destruction of rangelands, and the annihilation of wetlands.
Lands that were once covered with vegetation and greenery have now become centers of dust production, with columns of dust that remain suspended in the air with every gust of wind and enter citizens’ lungs with every breath.
The destruction of natural shields, the death of wetlands, the birth of dust storms
From Hamoun in eastern Iran to Hoor al-Azim in the southwest, wetlands that once served as natural shields against dust storms have now themselves become centers of crisis.
Experts say that consecutive droughts, excessive groundwater extraction, dam construction on upstream rivers, and inter-basin water transfer projects have cut off the vital arteries of these wetlands.
In many cases, the water rights of these ecosystems have been overlooked for the sake of agricultural development, industry, or supplying water to large cities.
The Hamoun wetland, once a source of life in eastern Iran, now sends dust storms as far as Zahedan and Birjand with every storm.
In the southwest, the Hoor al-Azim wetland, part of which lies within Iran’s territory, has lost much of its natural capacity to retain moisture and control dust due to oil and industrial activities.
How is the health of citizens endangered by suspended particles?
Dust storms are the silent enemy of public health. Particles smaller than 2.5 microns easily enter the lungs and even penetrate the bloodstream. These particles are associated with diseases such as asthma, cancer, heart diseases, and neurological disorders.
Cities like Ahvaz, Zahedan, Abadan, and Ilam have often topped the list of the most polluted places in the world.
On days when the air quality index reaches dangerous levels, the only temporary solution is to close schools and recommend staying indoors.
Health officials have repeatedly reported a significant increase in emergency respiratory cases at hospitals following the rise in dust storms.
Iran’s healthcare system is also worn out under this crisis, from increased emergency visits and consumption of respiratory medications to pressure on healthcare infrastructure and hidden treatment costs. The psychological impacts of pollution are also significant, with chronic anxiety, reduced sleep quality, and a sense of insecurity affecting the community.
Recently, the Deputy of Treatment at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences stated that annually over 22,000 people visit medical centers due to respiratory problems caused by air pollution, and about 251,000 people directly visit medical centers for this reason.
Additionally, over 700 people in Ahvaz lost their lives last year due to suspended particles in the air.
The silent migration from villages
Dust storms, drought, and the loss of traditional livelihoods are fueling a wave of climate migration from Iran’s border regions towards cities.
In provinces like Khuzestan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Ilam, and Kermanshah, rural life is being destroyed under the pressure of environmental crises. Schools have closed, lands have been abandoned, and livestock have perished.
Many residents of these areas have no choice but to migrate, a forced migration that takes them to the outskirts of major cities where basic infrastructure for housing, employment, and services is lacking.
But migration is not just about population decline. With each migration, a part of the biological memory of the land, indigenous knowledge, and local management capacities are lost, a process that in the long term can weaken territorial resilience and exacerbate social and security gaps.
Dust storms, the hidden enemy of the economy
On the surface, dust storms only pollute the air, but in reality, they erode the country’s economy from within. Reduced agricultural productivity, infrastructure erosion, transportation disruptions, and increased maintenance costs for industrial equipment are just part of these damages.
Suspended particles cause problems for sensitive systems in power plants, refineries, and treatment facilities and lead to a reduction in the lifespan of equipment.
In agriculture, reduced sunlight, blockage of plant pores, soil and water pollution, and reduced product quality trap farmers in a cycle of bankruptcy and migration. On a larger scale, reduced tourism attraction, closure of outdoor economic activities, and increased energy consumption impose a significant economic burden on the country.
Can dust storms be controlled?
Addressing the dust storm crisis requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and transnational approach.
At the international level, Iran must adopt active environmental diplomacy, from negotiating water rights to participating in international conventions like UNCCD.
Only through multilateral dialogue, knowledge transfer, and joint regional action can the dust storm centers in neighboring countries be controlled.
From a domestic perspective, the first step is the restoration of wetlands and a review of the water allocation system; without this, no other technical measures will be effective.
Alongside this, implementing soil stabilization projects, developing native vegetation cover, managing livestock, and restoring rangelands should be prioritized.
The role of the people is also crucial; without environmental education, local community participation, and strengthening civil institutions, top-down solutions will be ineffective.
The dust storm crisis is not merely an environmental issue but a comprehensive reflection of the flawed development model in Iran.
A crisis that, if not turned into an opportunity to reassess policies, relocate industries, reform water-intensive projects, and move towards a climate-compatible economy, will create a dusty, unstable, and unequal future for Iran.
Iran stands on the brink of a strategic choice: either pursue resilience through deep environmental governance reforms or lose its future in a persistent fog of dust.
