Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has fired his deputy for parliamentary affairs, Shahram Dabiri, after public outrage erupted over a photo of him on an extravagant Antarctic cruise. The image, which went viral on social media, depicted Dabiri and his wife near the luxury Dutch-flagged ship Plancius, known for its Antarctic expeditions that cost about 3,885 euros ($4,200) per person.
Pezeshkian criticized the trip as “indefensible,” particularly in the context of Iran’s severe economic challenges, such as hyperinflation and widespread financial distress. In a statement released by the state news agency IRNA, he emphasized that officials should avoid actions that might seem insensitive to the public's suffering, even if they are funded privately. Dabiri, a 64-year-old physician who took office in August, claimed that the trip happened before he was in charge, but the damage to the government’s credibility was already apparent.
The outrage is putting some pressure on Pezeshkian’s administration, which promised to stabilize Iran’s economy. In March, lawmakers fired Economy Minister Abdolnasser Hemmati after the rial plummeted and inflation surged above 40%, underscoring the deepening crisis.
Public frustration in Iran over the elite's privileges has grown as millions struggle with soaring costs of basic goods. Analysts say the dismissal aims to signal accountability, but there are doubts over the Pezeshkian government’s ability to deliver reforms.