Ali Bagheri Kani (Persian: علی باقری کنی; born 1967[1]) is an Iranian diplomat who was formerly political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran from September 2021 to September 2024. He was acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2024. He is considered to be close to the Principlists and to be part of the inner circle of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[2]
Ali Bagheri | |
|---|---|
 Bagheri in 2019 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs Acting | |
| In office 20 May 2024 – 21 August 2024 | |
| President | Mohammad Mokhber (Acting) |
| Preceded by | Hossein Amir-Abdollahian |
| Succeeded by | Abbas Araghchi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ali Bagheri Kani 1967 (age 56–57) Kan, Tehran, Iran |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani (uncle) |
| Education | Economy |
| Alma mater | Imam Sadiq University |
Early life and education
editBagheri was born in 1967 in the village of Kan in Tehran County. His father, Mohammad-Bagher Bagheri, is a Shiite cleric who served as a member of the Assembly of Experts, while his uncle, Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, later led the same body.[3][4] His brother, Mesbah al-Hoda Bagheri Kani, is a son-in-law of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[5]
Bagheri Kani studied economics at the Imam Sadiq University in Tehran.[5]
Career
editBagheri has been a diplomat since 1990.[3] He was Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council from 2007 to 2013 and currently serves as advisor at the council.[6] He was also chairman of Saeed Jalili's presidential campaign in the 2013 election.[3] He also briefly worked as a political analyst at IRIB.[5]
Kani was the lead negotiator in mediations between Iran and the United States in the September 2023 prisoner release deal.[7][8] He had served as deputy to the foreign minister.[9]
Kani served as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 May 2024, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash.[10] On 3 June 2024, he made his first overseas visit as foreign minister to Lebanon,[11] during which he confirmed that the Iranian government was engaged in negotiations with the United States hosted by Oman.[12] He served as minister until his replacement by Abbas Araghchi on 21 August 2024.[13]
References
edit
- ^ "Ali Bagheri-Kani, Iran's veteran nuclear negotiator, named acting foreign minister". alarabiya.net. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Iran president helicopter crash live updates: President Ebrahim Raisi dies". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-05-20.
- ^ a b c SNSC members
- ^ "Death in the fog: the grim search for Raisi's helicopter". France 24. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "Who is Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's acting foreign minister?". Al Jazeera. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ علی باقری
- ^ Salari, Fatemeh (2023-09-19). "Qatar says prisoner swap could pave way for better understanding between Iran-US". Doha News. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ Hafezi, Parisa; Mills, Andrew (2023-09-11). "Iran, US on verge of prisoner swap under Qatar-mediated deal". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Ali Bagheri-Kani, Iran's veteran nuclear negotiator, named acting foreign minister". alarabiya.net. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Ali Bagheri Kani appointed as Iran's Acting Foreign Minister after Amirabdollahian's death". Reuters. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Iran's acting top diplomat visits Lebanon in the first official visit since his predecessor's death". Associated Press. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Iran's top diplomat confirms talks with US". France 24. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Iran's hard-line parliament approves all members of president's Cabinet, first time since 2001". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-08-22.