Iranian President Fires Deputy Over “Lavish” Antarctica Trip Amid Economic Crisis
- Victor Nwoko
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs Shahram Dabiri over what he described as an extravagant and unjustifiable recreational trip to Antarctica. The decision was made official in a decree issued on Saturday, in which the president condemned the trip as inconsistent with the values and priorities of the government.
“In a government that seeks to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and amidst significant economic pressures on our people, the lavish travels of government officials, even when personally financed, are indefensible,” Pezeshkian wrote.
He emphasized that Dabiri’s extensive history of public service did not exempt him from the principles of “honesty, justice, and the promises we made to the people.” The president stated that officials must commit to a life of simplicity and responsibility, especially in light of the country's ongoing economic hardship.
Dabiri, while denying any wrongdoing, publicly accepted the president’s decision to relieve him of his duties.
Pezeshkian further criticized the trip as a violation of the administration's standards of “simple living,” insisting that all officials should embody restraint and accountability during periods of financial difficulty. Iran’s economy has faced prolonged strain due in part to U.S. sanctions related to the country’s nuclear program.
The economic pressure has intensified recently, with the Iranian rial falling to a record low of 1,039,000 to the U.S. dollar last week.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the dismissal demonstrated the president’s impartiality, stating that “he has no pact of brotherhood with anyone, and his only criteria are efficacy, justice, honesty, and public interest.”
コメント