The rapid growth of urbanization and increasing environmental pressures in Iranian metropolises have made it imperative to move towards smart cities with a sustainable development approach. The city of Tabriz, as one of the country's industrial and economic hubs, has faced challenges in recent decades such as air pollution, resource management weaknesses, and inefficiencies in environmental governance structures. This study aimed to conduct a structural analysis of the factors influencing smart environmental development in Tabriz. The research employed a quantitative method based on structural equation modeling (SEM) using the partial least squares (Smart PLS) approach. The statistical population included experts in urban planning, environmental studies, technology, and urban management. Using Cochran's formula for an unlimited population, a sample size of 200 experts was selected. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire and analyzed using Smart PLS and SPSS software. The findings showed that the factors of "smart waste management" with a path coefficient (beta) of 0.34, "technological infrastructure" with 0.31, "smart urban services" with 0.30, and "smart economy" with 0.26 had the most significant direct impacts on smart environmental development. The final model's coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.71, and the overall goodness of fit (GOF) was 0.50, indicating a highly desirable model fit. Additionally, the highest R² value was recorded for the "smart digital services" component at 0.76. The results of this study indicate that achieving smart environmental development in Tabriz depends on simultaneously enhancing technological capacities, improving environmental management systems, and promoting integrated data-driven urban governance.