Iranian president sacks deputy for 'lavish' Antarctic cruise

President says trip by Shahram Dabiri, the vice-president for parliamentary affairs, was "indefensible" while Iran's economy suffers.

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The president's office described Shahram Dabiri's trip as "unjustifiable and unacceptable given the ongoing economic challenges" in Iran.

A picture of Dabiri and his wife posing in front of MV Plancius, which was bound for Antarctica, circulated widely on social media and caused outrage in Iran.

In a statement on Saturday, Pezeshkian said Dabari had been removed as vice president of parliamentary affairs for "indefensible" actions, regardless of whether they were financed from his own pocket.

"In a government that seeks to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and amid significant economic pressures on our people, the lavish travels of government officials, even when personally financed, are indefensible," Pezeshkian said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0xy21m7lo

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