In one of Iran’s starkest public health assessments, Deputy Health Minister Alireza Raeisi has described a growing crisis driven not by nature but by human activity: more than 57,000 Iranians lose their lives every year due to air pollution, much of it linked to high-emission, low-efficiency vehicles produced by domestic manufacturers.
Speaking at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Raeisi called the number of pollution-related deaths “alarmingly high,” particularly in Tehran, Isfahan, Arak, and Khuzestan — cities that experience prolonged episodes of smog. He noted that the air in these regions is saturated with harmful particles that can cause cancer and cardiovascular disease, emphasizing that Iran remains “far from safety.”
At the center of the problem are outdated vehicles — once symbols of national industry, now a source of environmental and safety concern. Raeisi criticized automakers for their slow progress in upgrading production standards: “They continue producing low-quality vehicles with high fuel consumption.”
The result, according to official data, is stark: around 57,000 deaths each year are attributed to air pollution, while about 24,000 people lose their lives in road accidents. Together, these figures amount to more than 80,000 fatalities annually — nearly one-tenth of Iran’s annual population growth.
The economic impact is also significant. According to Raeisi, air pollution costs the country an amount close to ten times its annual government budget, draining resources through healthcare spending, productivity losses, and reduced labor efficiency. The challenges are compounded by poor road safety and the high cost of vehicles, which burden young consumers while offering limited protection.
Raeisi summarized the issue: “Substandard vehicles do three things — they impose financial strain, they pollute the air, and they contribute to road accidents.”
Calling for a comprehensive reform, he urged a transition toward cleaner technologies, including electric vehicles and investments in renewable energy and charging infrastructure. “If producing safe and efficient gasoline cars is difficult, we should move toward importing or developing electric ones. The current model cannot continue,” he said.
Raeisi warned that without addressing the combined threats of air pollution, unsafe roads, and outdated technology, the country risks losing a large portion of its productive population to preventable causes.
