Hamid Baghaei

Hamid Baghaei (Persian: حميد بقایی) is an Iranian conservative politician and former intelligence officer^[1] who is considered one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's closest confidants.^[3] He first entered the administration in 2006 as deputy of Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei in the Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization. In 2011, he simultaneously held the position of vice president in charge of executive affairs and supervised the presidential administration.^[4]

Hamid Baghaei
حمید بقایی
Baghaei in 2011
Supervisor of Presidential Administration of Iran
In office 9 April 2011 – 3 August 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Succeeded by	Mohammad Nahavandian
Vice President of Iran for Executive Affairs
In office 9 April 2011 – 4 August 2013
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Ali Saeedlou
Succeeded by	Mohammad Shariatmadari
Vice President of Iran Head of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization
In office 17 July 2009 – 19 May 2011
President	Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Preceded by	Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei
Succeeded by	Ruhollah Ahmadzadeh
Personal details
Born	1968 or 1969 (age 56–57)[1] Hamedan, Iran[1]
Political party	Sweet Scent of Service (2006–2009)[2]

Misuse of public funds

In June 2015, Baghaei was arrested.^[4] In 2017, for the misuse of public funds while in office, he was sentenced to 63 years in prison.^[5]

2017 presidential election

On 18 February 2017, Baghaei announced his candidacy in the 2017 Iranian presidential election as an 'independent’ candidate.^[6] but his bid was rejected.