Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian fires his deputy for his Antarctica trip: 'Expected modest lifestyle'

A trip to Antarctica with his family cost Iranian deputy president Shahram Dabiri his post. President Masoud Pezeshkian fired his deputy for parliamentary affairs after his trip triggered a controversy in cash-strapped Iran, where many struggle for food and other basic needs. 

 

The controversy broke out after images of Dabiri and his wife posing in front of MV Plancius, a vessel bound for Antarctica, circulated widely on social media. The images triggered outrage in Iran as an Antarctica expedition on the MV Plancius reportedly has a starting cost equivalent to $6,685 (£5,187). 

 

It is unclear whether Dabiri personally paid for the luxury trip. However, Pezeshkian said, even if paid for personally, the leisure trip was in stark contrast with the Iranian administration's vow of sincerity and justice at a time when Iranians were grappling with intense economic pressures. "They are unjustifiable and go against the standards of a modest lifestyle expected from them," he added, stressing that the Iranian government seeks to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali).  

 

It is said that Pezeshkian was forced to take the step after his aides advised him to remove Dabiri from the post amid public outrage.

 

Though it is unclear what expedition package Dabiri chose or what mode of transport he took from Iran to Antarctica, he was seen posing before the vessel used by the Royal Netherlands Navy for military and civilian research between 1976 and 2004. Though it's mostly scientists and explorers who mostly venture to Antarctica, tourism to the continent has grown these days. This involves flying to the  Ushuaia, one of the southernmost points of Argentina.

 

The Western sanctions have put Iran under stress with inflation at 29.5 per cent and unemployment rate as of October 2024 at 8.4 per cent.

 

On Friday, Iran’s rial hit a record low against the US dollar. This came as tensions mounted between Iran and the US over Iran’s nuclear programme. The closure of currency shops due to the Persian New Year, Nowruz also caused the plunge with only informal trading taking place on the streets.

Middle East