Disinfection Operations on Valiasr Street
With the spread of COVID-19, the appearance of many cities changed. In Tehran, streets that were once filled with movement and crowds suddenly turned into quieter, more cautious spaces. Among them, Valiasr Street — one of the longest and most well-known streets in the city — became a stage for emergency efforts aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.
During the early months of the pandemic, the Tehran Fire Department took on an additional role beyond their regular duties. Fire trucks and firefighters equipped with protective gear moved along Valiasr Street, spraying disinfectant across sidewalks, public facilities, and surfaces frequently touched by pedestrians.
A street normally defined by the constant sound of traffic and the presence of thousands of passersby appeared strikingly different. Firefighters in protective suits working in the relatively empty urban space created an unusual image of a city adapting to an unprecedented situation.
Disinfection operations were often carried out during hours of lower pedestrian traffic. The crews moved along long sections of the street, covering surfaces that thousands of people would normally come into contact with each day—from railings and benches to shop entrances and public transport stations.
These efforts were part of a broader attempt across the city to contain the spread of the virus. At that time, the presence of firefighters and municipal workers in the streets was not only a practical public-health measure but also a visible sign of the city’s collective response to a global crisis.
The photographs in this series document moments from these operations, capturing a time when Valiasr Street—one of the most important arteries of Tehran—became a place where firefighters worked quietly, behind protective equipment, to safeguard public health.