Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, has dismissed his vice president for parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, following public backlash over a luxury trip to Antarctica during the Nowruz holiday.
The president’s office described Dabiri’s travel with his wife as “unjustifiable and unacceptable given the ongoing economic challenges” in the country.
A photo of the couple posing in front of the MV Plancius, a Dutch vessel headed for Antarctica, quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage among Iranians.
In a statement on Saturday, Pezeshkian confirmed Dabiri’s removal from office, citing “indefensible” actions irrespective of whether the trip had been self-funded.
“In a government that seeks to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and amid significant economic pressures on our people, the lavish travels of government officials, even when personally financed, are indefensible,” Pezeshkian said.
The president, who came to office last year on promises to repair Iran’s troubled economy and improve daily living standards, emphasised that such conduct “starkly contradict the principle of simplicity that is paramount for those in positions of authority”.
Iran’s economy remains under heavy strain, largely due to Western sanctions linked to its support for groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah—organisations designated as terrorist groups by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
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According to the International Monetary Fund, Iran’s unemployment rate as of October 2024 stood at 8.4%, with an annual inflation rate of 29.5%.
Reports have also indicated that the starting cost of the Antarctic expedition on the MV Plancius is around $6,685 (£5,187), a figure that drew further criticism given Iran’s economic climate. While Antarctica trips are typically reserved for scientists and seasoned explorers, tourist cruises have grown in popularity in recent years.
The vessel featured in the viral photograph previously served the Royal Netherlands Navy for research purposes from 1976 to 2004. It remains unclear which travel package Dabiri purchased or how he journeyed from Iran to Antarctica. Some cruise routes require travellers to depart from Ushuaia in southern Argentina, more than 3,000km from Buenos Aires.
According to the BBC, Iranian media reported mounting pressure on Pezeshkian from his supporters to dismiss Dabiri, as public frustration intensified over the holiday voyage.
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