Air pollution in the Iranian capital, Tehran, has reached an alarming level once again, prompting authorities to shut down kindergartens and primary schools, Press TV reported.
َAccording to secretary of Tehran's Air Pollution Emergency Committee, Mohammad Hadi Heidarzadeh, kindergartens and primary schools in the capital city will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Traffic will be also limited according to the last two digits on the license plate of automobiles, and smoke-belching cars will be fined or towed away as well on Monday.
Meteorological Department of Tehran Province announced on Sunday that severe stagnant weather will lead to soaring air pollution in the upcoming days.
Tehran, with an estimated population of 14 million people, faced severe air pollution for 18 consecutive days in December.
On December 28, 107 Iranian lawmakers gave a written notice to President Hassan Rouhani, calling for the adoption of necessary measures to tackle the deteriorating air pollution.
They said the president and his Cabinet should implement measures to improve health conditions for Iranians, particularly children and the elderly.
The lawmakers' notice came two days after the vice president and head of Iran's Department of Environment, Massoumeh Ebtekar, said the government has made great efforts to tackle air pollution but it is impossible to overcome all previous shortcomings in a short time.
Eighty percent of Tehran's pollution is blamed on exhaust fumes emitted from five million cars.