Iranian president sacks deputy for 'lavish' Antarctic cruise

BBC ^ | 04/05/2025 | Malu Cursino

[BenLurkin]

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has fired one of his deputies for taking a "lavish" trip to Antarctica with his wife during Nowruz, the Persian new year.

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.

The Antarctica expedition on the MV Plancius reportedly has a starting cost equivalent to $6,685 (£5,187).

The Dutch vessel pictured in the picture of Dabiri, for example, was used by the Royal Netherlands Navy for military and civilian research between 1976 and 2004.

It is not clear what expedition package Dabiri chose or what mode of transport he took from Iran to Antarctica.

On one of the many package deals available online, explorers need to embark and disembark from Ushuaia, one of the southernmost points of Argentina. The town is about 3,079km (1,913 miles) from Buenos Aires, the Argentinian capital.

[cuban leaf]

Why would anyone vacation in Antarctica, other than the surfing?

[crusty old prospector]

Mountain biking.

[cuban leaf]

OK, you got me. That’s two things. 🤣

[SaveFerris]

Maybe Israeli 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱 missiles
can’t reach Antarctica? 😅🤣🤪

[chajin]

Spending Tehran money to go to Antarctica? Man, that’s cold.

[Cold Heart]

Visit alien base

[Billthedrill]

The penguin racing is pretty exciting.

[V_TWIN]

I’m surprised the guy lived to tell about it.....I figured in Iran that’d be the kinda thing would warrant lopping off a body part....or maybe a head even. Lol!

[verum ago]

I figured in Iran that’d be the kinda thing would warrant lopping off a body part....or maybe a head even

From the article and context, they clearly paid for the trips themselves.

If it had been Iranian government funds, there's a darn near 100% chance his punishment would've involved a crane, a rope, and a drop.

Honestly I can't really disagree with the Iranians here. Make your government look bad through imprudent and universally disdained action? Fired. Steal from taxpayers and flaunt it? Hanging. Sounds fine to me.

[frank ballenger]

Furious Iranian:

امیر گیلیگان:
این همه دردسر برای یک سفر دریایی سه ساعته؟
in cpehmeh dardasar baraye yek safar dariyayi seh saateh?

---

For those whose farsi is a little rusty since high school:

Amir Gilligan:
All this trouble for a three hour cruise?

[xp38]

the weather started getting rough!

[nwrep]

Summer vacation.

[nwrep]

The wife is gorgeous.

[cuban leaf]

Dang! I forgot about the food. Deep fried penguin sticks!

[frank ballenger]

Ha.

With his luck both females under their veils and burkas will turn out to be the late Helen Thomas’s uglier older sisters.

[Noumenon]

He sleeps with the penguins.