SHOTLIST ++AP Television is adhering to Iranian law that stipulates all media are banned from providing BBC Persian or VOA Persian any coverage from Iran, and under this law if any media violate this ban the Iranian authorities can immediately shut down that organisation in Tehran.++ 1. Various of Tehran skyline, hazy air indicating pollution 2. Mid of traffic light 3. Traffic on street 4. Policeman wearing mask 5. Close of newspaper headline, reading (Farsi): "The problem of air pollution has not been solved" 6. Woman wearing mask 7. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Shafiee (no first name given), Tehran resident: "The air pollution today is less severe than the last couple of days as a result of the wind. But I think we need a drastic measure (to control the air pollution) in big cities, especially in Tehran. (for example) not using vehicles with only one passenger, or stop the excessive production of vehicles." 8. Mid of morning newspapers on display 9. Mid of Nasser Moharramnejad, environment expert 10. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Nasser Moharramnejad, environment expert: (commenting on whether domestically made petrol is the main cause of air pollution as claimed by media) "We don't have a problem when it comes to the (domestically-made) gasoline. The problem is with our diesel, because it has a high level of sulphur, but this problem is gradually being resolved as well. In Tehran only certain types of vehicles use diesel and the majority of cars use gasoline, which is fine, the (Iranian-made gasoline) does not have a high level of lead in it and has a low level of octane, which is fine." 11. Close of a bus exhaust 12. Traffic on highway 13. Plane flying 14. Wide of highway 15. Mid of vehicle manufacturing plant 16. Close of newspaper headline, reading (Farsi): "Doctors warn: Tehran residents prone to most dangerous diseases" 17. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Masoori (no first name given) Tehran resident: "Many people are suffering from asthma, respiratory and heart problems. The air pollution can make that worse. The pollution has a big impact on people's lives." 18. Wide of vehicle manufacturing plant 19. Wide of Milad Telecommunication Tower obscured by pollution 20. Tehran skyline with hazy air STORYLINE A thick cloud of smog has been hanging over Tehran for days, as air pollution reached dangerous levels. The roads around the Iranian capital, however, remain busy, despite requests broadcast on state television for people to stop driving to work, and to use the city's public transport system. Tehran has been suffering from dangerous levels of pollution and smog for the past two months and the government has declared one public holiday in the capital last month, and two days in the previous month, due to the pollution. In the mornings, the sun has been barely visible through the city's smog. In the past couple of years, police have limited city traffic through schemes based on the first digit of the vehicle's license plates. Cars with odd or even numbers must alternate days during the working week. However, many people believe the measure can not control the city's air pollution any more. Iran occasionally announces holidays and traffic restrictions over pollution. Health experts say many Iranians suffer from pollution-related ailments. Most of the blame for Tehran's pollution goes to low quality domestic fuel powering the often badly maintained or aging vehicles that still move around in the city. The domestic production of petrol of a lower grade is a by-product of Western sanctions on Iran's fuel imports. Iran is under UN sanctions and Western oil, banking and trade restrictions over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, which the West says is a potential pathway for nuclear weapons development. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/49eb1fcb8e403d87a06b0eda9e440239 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 31 Jul 2015
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