Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed 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 unaccepted given the ongoing economic difficulties” in Iran.

A picture of Dabiri and his wife posing in front of MV Plancius, which was heading to the South Pole, spread widely on social media and caused outrage in Iran.

In a statement on Saturday, Pezeshkian stated Dabiri had been dismissed as vice president of parliamentary affairs for “indefensible” actions, regardless of whether they were privately funded.

“In a government that aims to follow the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and amidst significant economic pressures on our people, the extravagant travels of government officials, even when personally funded, are indefensible,” Pezeshkian stated.

Iran’s economy is under significant strain, and is subject to Western sanctions in part due to its support for groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, which are classified as terrorist organisations by the US, UK, and the EU.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Iran’s unemployment rate as of October 2024 was 8.4%, while its annual inflation rate is 29.5%.“`was 29.5%.

Pezeshkian stated Dabiri’s actions “sharply contradict the principle of simplicity that is of utmost importance for those in positions of authority”.

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

Usually, visits to the coldest and least populated continent in the world are carried out by scientists and seasoned explorers.

However, tourism voyages on cruises have surged in popularity in recent years. 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 certain what expedition package Dabiri chose or what mode of transport he took from Iran to Antarctica.

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

The Iranian president was elected last year with a pledge to revive the economy and improve Iranians’ daily lives. He succeeded Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash.

Iranian media reported that many of Pezeshkian’s supporters urged him to remove Dabiri from his post as public discontent grew over the trip.