Iran’s air pollution caused an estimated $17 billion in economic losses over the past year, according to assessments by the country’s Health Ministry, highlighting the growing toll of environmental degradation on public health and productivity. Based on the current exchange rate, the losses amount to nearly 1,394 trillion tomans , covering a wide range of impacts from work stoppages and school closures to premature deaths and long-term disability. Officials say more than 58,000 deaths in 2024 were attributable to air pollution, including over 8,000 in Tehran alone . The fatalities were linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, and other chronic conditions. In some cases, individuals with no prior medical history reportedly suffered fatal heart attacks triggered by polluted air. Data released by the Ministry shows that Ahvaz, Isfahan, Tehran, Karaj and Mashhad recorded the highest annual concentrations of PM2.5 particles, while Sanandaj and Rasht had the lowes...