Schools Closed In Tehran Due To Air Pollution

Schools remain closed in Iran's Tehran and several other cities on Wednesday as severe air pollution continued to grip the country. Thick smog has blanketed the capital for more than a week, prompting authorities to urge residents to stay home. The air pollution index stood at 162 on Wednesday. Critics have blamed the government for burning mazut, a heavy, low-quality fuel oil used in power plants instead of natural gas. The government has denied using the fuel in Tehran.