Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed his deputy for parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, following controversy over a costly trip to Antarctica. A widely circulated photo showed Dabiri and his wife near a luxury cruise ship in Antarctica, sparking public outrage amid Iran’s ongoing economic crisis.
In his official decree, President Pezeshkian stated that such “expensive leisure trips by officials, even if paid out of their own pocket, are neither defensible nor justifiable” given the severe economic pressures faced by the Iranian populace. He emphasized that the trip contradicted the administration’s commitments to honesty and justice.
Dabiri, a 64-year-old physician and close ally of Pezeshkian, had served as deputy for parliamentary affairs since August 2024. The dismissal highlights the administration’s sensitivity to public perception, especially concerning officials’ expenditures during challenging economic times.
This incident adds to a series of administrative changes aimed at addressing Iran’s economic difficulties. Earlier this year, Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati was dismissed amid currency depreciation and rising inflation. The government continues to face scrutiny over its handling of the nation’s economic challenges.
