Financial Tribune - Air pollution has become a source of serious concern to the Iranian capital’s residents in the absence of workable solutions, Tehran’s Mayor Pirouz Hanachi said while detailing plans to curb the all-pervasive smog.

Speaking on Friday, Hanachi emphasized that the burning of fossil fuels, excessive use of private cars and the growing number of low-quality motorcycles are the main culprits causing air pollution in the megacity, IRIB News reported.

According to urban managers, the severe trade restrictions facing Iran due to US sanction have hampered the expansion of public transportation fleet. Plans to purchase new buses and add more train wagons to the city's subway network have ground to a halt.

According to Hanachi, there seems to be no alternative at present for curbing the motorbike numbers.

Due to the recent economic headwinds, the price of vehicles and motorcycles has seen a threefold jump, just like any other commodity.

After US President Donald Trump reneged on Iran’s nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions against Tehran last summer, the Iranian rial lost almost 70% of its value over the past year.