Smog Choking Iran’s Oil Belt Tests a Leadership Hit by Protests

Iranian authorities are scrambling to stem a growing crisis over air pollution in the province that produces a major share of the country’s oil, showing a sensitivity to people’s demands not always visible before anti-government protests raged earlier this month.

A yellow smog has enveloped the southwestern Khuzestan region ever since a severe dust storm struck on Jan. 19, shutting schools and offices and prompting criticism of the administration across local media. So far, 1,530 people have been hospitalized with breathing problems, according to state-run television.

When pressed on the public-health implications on live television, President Hassan Rouhani said he ...