Tehran plunged into darkness by smoke from burning oil

Residents of Tehran woke up on Sunday morning to find it was still dark outside, an apocalyptic sight created by thick black smoke billowing from oil depots hit by Israeli strikes.

With the sun blotted out, disoriented people in the Iranian capital had to turn on their lights to see through the gloom. The fuel depot strikes are the first time Iranian oil infrastructure has been targeted during the nine-day war.

Four oil depots and a petroleum logistics site in and around Tehran were hit. Local authorities said six people were killed and 20 wounded at one of the sites. AFP could not independently verify these numbers.

Toxic fumes

On the streets of Tehran, security forces directed traffic while wearing special coats and masks to protect themselves. Authorities warned that the noxious fumes can cause breathing problems and irritate eyes, urging residents to stay indoors.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that “significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur and nitrogen oxides” were released into the air.

Tehran’s governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian said on Sunday morning that fuel distribution in the Iranian capital has been “temporarily interrupted”.

For now, each vehicle in Tehran is limited to 20 litres of fuel.

During the 12-day war in June 2025, around six out of the 10 million residents left Tehran, according to local media. But this time the majority have stayed. The United Nations estimated on Tuesday that around 100,000 people had fled the capital.