Iranian President dismisses deputy over extravagant journey to Antarctica
Here's a fresh take on the story:
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has pulled the plug on one of his deputies, Shahram Dabiri, over a fancy-schmancy escapade to Antarctica during some off-time.
The president axed Dabiri from his post as Vice President of Parliamentary Affairs in a savage decree on Saturday, slamming the trip as pure extravagance and unjustifiable given the hardships faced by the country's people.
"In a ruling administration that's all about following the values of the first Shia Imam (Imam Ali), and during some fierce economic pressure on our folks, the lavish jaunts of government officials, even when they're self-funded, can't be defended," Pezeshkian wrote, cancelling Dabiri right there on the spot.
He also pointed out that Dabiri's deep roots in governmentn weren't enough to shield him from the president's expectations of "honesty, fairness, and sticking to the promises we made to the people." According to state news agency IRNA, those were the president's exact words.
Dabiri retorted that he was innocent but seemed to agree with the president's decision, stating that the trip had been privately funded.
Pezeshkian argued that Dabiri's actions were a direct contradiction of the "simple living" ethos that government officials should abide by, especially during tough economic times.
For decades, Iran's economy has been choking under the weight of US sanctions connected to its nuclear program. Last week, the Iranian currency plummeted to a staggering 1,039,000 rials to a single US dollar, according to Reuters, quoting data from Bonbast.com.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, speaking through IRNA, said that Pezeshkian's decision to drop Dabiri shows "he has no special bond with anyone and only bases his decisions on effectiveness, fairness, honesty, and the public interest."
Overall, Iran's economy has been under the cosh for years due to US sanctions, which have resulted in unstable currency rates and inflation. These economic challenges were brought to the fore when the president criticized Dabiri's trips. A source at IRNA pointed out that such showy behavior from high-ranking officials is unwise during times of economic distress.
- The Middle East, particularly Iran, has been grappling with economic pressure due to US sanctions, with the Iranian currency plummeting significantly recently, as cited by Reuters.
- In a bold move, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed his Vice President of Parliamentary Affairs, Shahram Dabiri, over an extravagant trip to Antarctica, asserting that such lavish jaunts by government officials are untenable, especially during times of hardship.
- Pezeshkian's decision to axe Dabiri was based on the principles of effectiveness, fairness, and honesty, reinforcing the Shia ethos of simple living, a contrast to the Shia Imam Ali's values, and emphasizing the importance of these values, even when officials fund their trips privately.
