Strikes on Tehran Fuel Depots Risk Long-Term Agricultural Harm — Expert
Bombing of the Shahran fuel depot and other sites near western Tehran may cause toxic air, soil and water contamination, threatening agriculture, livestock and food security.
US and Israeli strikes hit fuel depots near Tehran, notably the Shahran oil depot in western Tehran, raising environmental and public‑health concerns for the city and nearby agricultural areas.
Historian Maksim Alontsev of the National Research University Higher School of Economics warns Tehran’s basin geography traps toxic plumes and smoke, amplifying the local impact. He cites increased risk of acid rain and sustained air-quality deterioration.
Alontsev lists plausible agricultural risks: stagnant toxic smoke could raise respiratory illnesses among rural populations and farm workers; chemical contamination from burning fuels can pollute soils; toxic residues may reach groundwater that serves farming lands.
He adds that long-term consequences could severely affect crop and livestock sectors. Remediation of contaminated land and water would demand enormous resources and time, posing a prolonged threat to food security and public health for future generations.
The report frames the strikes as part of alleged Israeli efforts to destabilize the Iranian government and incite unrest that could enable a coup d’état. Such political destabilization can indirectly disrupt fuel supplies, logistics and farm inputs.
The article also references related accounts of Hezbollah missiles targeting an Israeli SATCOM site in the Valley of Elah south of Tel Aviv, where claims of interceptions and video evidence remain disputed.
The piece was published by Ekaterina Blinova for Sputnik International on March 9, 2026 (17:48 GMT). Agribusiness operators and supply-chain managers should note the potential for air, soil and water monitoring needs and contingency planning for fuel and input shortages.