Iran names nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri as the caretaker foreign minister.
Following the horrible helicopter crash that killed Iran’s Foreign Minister and President, Ali Bagheri, the country’s experienced nuclear negotiator, was appointed acting Foreign Minister on Monday.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the late foreign minister, appointed Bagheri, 56, as his deputy. He is well-known for his close ties to Iran’s ultraconservatives and his inclusion in the inner circle of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Bagheri was recognized for his calm demeanor during his term, while taking strong opinions, particularly when it came to criticizing Western meddling.
Bagheri is well-versed in Iran’s nuclear dossier, a contentious issue that has strained relations between Tehran and major international players, particularly Israel. He became a vocal critic of the 2015 nuclear deal, claiming that the previous administration had jeopardized Iran’s interests.
Bagheri, born in 1967 in the northwest Tehran village of Kan, is from a politically active family. The Assembly of Experts, which was in responsibility of selecting the Supreme Leader, included his father, a Shiite priest. In the interim, his uncle, Mohammed Reza Mahdavi Kani, led the same organization.
When Baghery joined the Iranian Foreign Ministry in the 1990s, he made his first foray into politics. During this time, he formed close contacts with hardline Saeed Jalil. He was Jalili’s Deputy.
Bagheri joined the judiciary after working under Jalili, first as an assistant for international relations and later as the Human Rights Council secretary.
Bagheri returned to diplomacy in 2021, when he was appointed chief nuclear negotiator and deputy foreign minister for political affairs.
With nuclear discussions at an impasse due to serious disagreements, particularly with the United States, Baghari’s appointment as interim foreign minister comes at a critical time.
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