Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has sacked one of his deputies for going on a “lavish” vacation to Antarctica with his wife for Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
Shahram Dabiri’s travel was condemned by the president’s office as “unjustifiable and unacceptable given Iran’s ongoing economic challenges”.
A photo of Dabiri and his wife posing in front of the MV Plancius, which was heading for the South Pole, went viral on social media and sparked indignation in Iran.
In a statement issued Saturday, Pezeshkian stated that Dabari had been removed as vice president of parliamentary affairs for “indefensible” acts, regardless of whether they were funded by his own pocket.
“In a government that seeks to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and amid tough economic pressures on our people, the lavish travels of government officials, even when personally financed, are indefensible,” Pezeshkian said.
Iran’s economy is under tremendous strain and is subject to Western sanctions as a result of its backing for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, who have been designated as terrorist organizations by the US, UK, and EU.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Iran’s unemployment rate was 8.4% in October 2024, with annual inflation reaching 29.5%.
According to Pezeshkian, Dabiri’s actions “starkly contradict the principle of simplicity that is paramount for those in positions of authority”.
According to reports, the expedition to Antarctica on the MV Plancius will cost $6,685 (£5,187).Scientists and experienced explorers typically make journeys to the world’s coldest and least populated continent.
However, tourism journeys aboard cruise ships have grown in popularity in recent years.The Dutch warship seen in the Dabiri, for example, was utilized by the Royal Netherlands Navy for military and civilian research from 1976 until 2004.
It is unclear what trip package Dabiri chose or how he traveled from Iran to Antarctica.
Explorers must board and disembark at Ushuaia, one of Argentina’s southernmost points when taking advantage of one of the many internet package offerings.
The village is approximately 3,079 kilometers (1,913 miles) from Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.
The Iranian president was elected last year on a promise to revitalize the economy and improve Iranians’ daily lives. He replaced Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.
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