title: Hamid Baghaei
text: # Hamid Baghaei
  
  Hamid Baghaei (Persian: حميد بقایی) is an Iranian conservative politician and former intelligence officer who is considered one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's closest confidants. 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.
  
  ## Misuse of public funds
  
  In June 2015, Baghaei was arrested. In 2017, for the misuse of public funds while in office, he was sentenced to 63 years in prison.
  
  ## 2017 presidential election
  
  On 18 February 2017, Baghaei announced his candidacy in the 2017 Iranian presidential election as an 'independent’ candidate. but his bid was rejected.
  
  