Iranian President Dismisses Deputy Over Controversial Antarctica Trip Amid Economic Crisis

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed his deputy for parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, following a controversial and expensive trip to Antarctica, as the country faces ongoing hyperinflation and an economic crisis.

A recent social media post showed Dabiri, along with his wife, near the Plancius cruise ship, which offers luxury expeditions to Antarctica. The cost of an eight-day trip on the Dutch-flagged vessel is priced at 3,885 euros per person. The photo sparked outrage, with many questioning the ethics of such a lavish trip amidst widespread economic hardship.

In a letter published Saturday by the official Iranian news agency, President Pezeshkian stated that “expensive leisure trips by officials, even if paid out of their own pocket, are neither defensible nor justifiable” in the current economic climate, where the public continues to suffer under severe financial pressures.

Dabiri, a 64-year-old physician and long-time confidant of Pezeshkian, had been appointed as deputy in August 2024. Despite Dabiri’s office clarifying that the trip occurred before his appointment, the backlash was intense, with many of Pezeshkian’s supporters demanding his removal.

The controversy comes as another setback for President Pezeshkian, who was elected last year with promises to address Iran’s economic challenges and improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Earlier in March, Pezeshkian’s Economy Minister, Abdolnasser Hemmati, was dismissed by parliament following the plummeting value of the Iranian rial and soaring inflation.