GENEVA: The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that the “black rain” falling in Iran ​after strikes on oil facilities could cause respiratory ‌problems, and it backed Iran’s advisory urging people to remain indoors.
The UN health agency, which has an office in ​Iran and works with authorities on health emergencies, ​said it has received multiple reports of oil-laden ⁠rain this week. 

Tehran was choked in black ​smoke on Monday after an oil refinery was hit, ​in an escalation in strikes on Iran’s domestic energy supplies as part of the US-Israeli campaign.
“The black rain and the acidic rain ​coming with it is indeed a danger for ​the population, respiratory mainly,” WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press ‌briefing in Geneva, adding that Iran had advised people to stay indoors.
Asked whether the WHO backed that advice, he said: “Given what is at risk right now, the ​oil storage facilities, ​the refineries that have been struck, triggering fires, bringing serious air quality concerns, that is ​definitely a good idea.”
One video sent to ​Reuters by a WHO staff member showed what they said was a cleaner mopping up black liquid at its office entrance ​in Tehran on March 8. ​