Ali Bagheri Kani
Deputy FM Ali Bagheri Kani
Last refreshed: 14 May 2026
What is Iran's Deputy FM signalling at BRICS about Hormuz and the conflict?
Timeline for Ali Bagheri Kani
Mentioned in: Araghchi denies Hormuz obstruction at BRICS Delhi
Iran Conflict 2026- Who is Ali Bagheri Kani?
- Ali Bagheri Kani is Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and former chief nuclear negotiator under President Raisi. He attended the BRICS Delhi summit in May 2026, calling on member states to act against US aggression.
- What did Iran's Deputy FM say at BRICS in May 2026?
- Ali Bagheri Kani called on BRICS states to act 'against US aggression' at the Delhi summit on 14 May 2026, alongside FM Araghchi's denial that Iran had obstructed the Strait of Hormuz.Source: South China Morning Post
- Why is Iran lobbying BRICS countries during the 2026 conflict?
- Iran is seeking diplomatic cover and pressure on the US from non-aligned states. Bagheri Kani's 'US aggression' framing at BRICS Delhi was designed to internationalise the conflict narrative ahead of any Ceasefire negotiations.Source: South China Morning Post
Background
Ali Bagheri Kani represented Iran at the BRICS foreign ministers' summit in New Delhi on 14 May 2026, accompanying Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. He called on BRICS states to act "against US aggression", the strongest multilateral positioning Iran had attempted since the conflict began. The statement was designed to recruit non-aligned partners for diplomatic cover.
Bagheri Kani is Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and one of the country's most senior career diplomats. He served as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator under President Raisi from 2021 to 2024, leading talks with the P4+1 during the JCPOA revival negotiations. He subsequently moved to the broader foreign ministry portfolio under Araghchi's leadership.
At BRICS, Bagheri Kani's role was to extend Iran's diplomatic reach beyond its traditional allies while Araghchi handled the headline denial of Hormuz obstruction. His explicit "US aggression" framing at a multilateral forum signals Iran's intent to internationalise the conflict narrative before any Ceasefire negotiation.
