‘Black rain’: Iran war’s toxic pollution will spread and last for decades

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergMarch 15, 2026 at 11:25 AM

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On March 8th, Israeli drone strikes hit oil depots and refineries near Tehran, Iran, resulting in fires and the release of black smoke. This smoke mixed with rain clouds, causing "black rain" to fall on the city, depositing toxic chemicals. An Iranian researcher, Nejat Rahmanian, recalled a similar event 35 years prior, when Iraqi forces set Kuwaiti oilfields ablaze during the Gulf War, causing similar pollution in Tehran. The recent strikes and resulting pollution raise concerns about long-term environmental and health consequences for the city and its residents, echoing the lasting impact of the earlier incident. The event highlights the potential for conflict to cause widespread and enduring environmental damage.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

University of Bradford 50% Kuwait 60% Iraq 60% Gulf War 70% Israel 70% United States 70% Nejat Rahmanian ×280% Tehran ×290% Iran 90%

Keywords

black rain 100% toxic pollution 90% oil depots 80% refineries 70% drone strikes 70% iran war 60% chemical pollution 60% oilfields ablaze 50% gulf war 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

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Source

South China Morning Post

Classification Confidence

85%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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black rain toxic pollution oil depots refineries drone strikes iran war chemical pollution oilfields ablaze gulf war

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