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| Kamal Kharazi | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kamal Kharazi |
| Native name | کمال خرازی |
| Birth date | 22 September 1944 |
| Birth place | Tehran, Imperial State of Iran |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Alma mater | University of Tehran; University of Oxford; University of Manchester |
| Occupation | Diplomat; Academic; Politician |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Notable works | Diplomatic engagements; writings on foreign policy |
Kamal Kharazi is an Iranian diplomat, academic, and politician who served as Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2005 and later as a senior adviser to Iranian leadership. He has been involved in diplomacy, higher education, and international negotiation, engaging with states, intergovernmental organizations, and regional bodies across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Born in Tehran during the era of the Imperial State of Iran, he pursued secondary studies in the capital before attending the University of Tehran, where he studied Political science and international relations. He continued postgraduate work at the University of Manchester and the University of Oxford, interacting with scholars from British Council programs and research institutes linked to SOAS, Chatham House, and European think tanks. During his student years he encountered contemporaries from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, and followed developments such as the Iranian Revolution and regional transformations including the Soviet–Afghan War and the Camp David Accords.
Kharazi's early professional life combined academia and diplomacy: he lectured at the University of Tehran and participated in exchanges with institutions like the University of California, Harvard University, and Yale University through seminars linked to the United Nations University and bilateral cultural programs with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. He entered the diplomatic service in the post-revolutionary period, serving at postings tied to the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations, engagements with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and bilateral missions in capitals such as Beirut, Damascus, and Rome. His assignments included roles in offices coordinating with the Non-Aligned Movement, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and regional forums involving Turkey, Pakistan, and India. Kharazi engaged with diplomatic counterparts from China, Russia, and the United States during periods of negotiation over issues linked to the Gulf War, UN Security Council deliberations, and sanctions regimes. He published essays and policy papers circulated among institutions like Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Brookings Institution, and Iranian Studies journals.
Appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, Kharazi served from 1997 to 2005, leading Iran's diplomacy through events including the September 11 attacks, the US invasion of Afghanistan, and the Iraq War (2003–2011). He conducted dialogues with counterparts from the European Union, France, Germany, United Kingdom, and the European Commission while engaging trilaterally with Russia and China in Shanghai Cooperation Organization–adjacent diplomacy and leveraging ties with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries members like Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and United Arab Emirates. His ministry navigated the aftermath of UN Security Council Resolution 1441, confrontations with officials from the United States Department of State, and negotiations with International Atomic Energy Agency representatives. Kharazi undertook shuttle diplomacy to capitals including Beijing, Moscow, Cairo, Ankara, Baghdad, New Delhi, and Tokyo, and participated in multilateral meetings at the UN General Assembly, the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, and regional summits involving Gulf Cooperation Council members. He met leaders such as Hassan Rouhani, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ali Akbar Velayati, Javad Zarif, and international figures including Kofi Annan, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, and Boutros Boutros-Ghali in contexts addressing sanctions, nuclear diplomacy, and regional security.
After leaving the ministry, Kharazi continued as a senior adviser and participant in Iranian political life, engaging with institutions such as the Supreme Leader of Iran's office, the Expediency Discernment Council, and the Assembly of Experts in advisory capacities. He chaired or joined delegations to dialogues involving OPEC conferences, BRICS-adjacent forums, and track-two diplomacy with representatives from Israel's environs via intermediaries, as well as with actors from Europe, Latin America, and Africa including South Africa and Brazil. He contributed to policy debates within factions linked to Reformists (Iran), interacted with figures from Principlists (Iran), and maintained relations with former ministers and diplomats such as Manouchehr Mottaki, Ali Akbar Salehi, and Mohammad Javad Zarif. Kharazi participated in academic conferences at Tehran University, guest lectures at Al-Azhar University, and panels organized by Amman-based institutes and Geneva-hosted NGOs.
Kharazi's public positions emphasized diplomatic engagement, regional dialogue, and balancing relations between Washington, D.C. and Eurasian capitals like Moscow and Beijing. He voiced perspectives on negotiations with the European Union on trade and sanctions, argued for engagement with IAEA mechanisms, and commented on crises such as the Syrian Civil War, the Yemeni Civil War, and tensions in the Persian Gulf involving United States Navy deployments and navies of France and United Kingdom. Analysts from International Crisis Group, Council on Foreign Relations, and academic centers at Princeton University, Columbia University, and Oxford have cited his diplomatic approach in studies on Iranian foreign policy continuity and change. His influence extended to mentoring diplomats, shaping curricula at Iranian universities, and advising on Iran's participation in multilateral institutions including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, and Gulf Cooperation Council observer interactions.
He is married and has family ties rooted in Tehran; his personal network spans alumni associations of the University of Tehran and international alumni of Oxford University and Manchester University. Over his career he received recognitions from academic bodies and diplomatic societies, participated in honorary delegations to France, Italy, China, and Russia, and was involved in awards ceremonies hosted by institutions like Tehran University of Medical Sciences and cultural centers connected to Iran–Iraq Cultural Exchange. His language skills include Persian, English, and familiarity with Arabic, facilitating engagement with states such as Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.
Category:Iranian diplomats Category:1944 births Category:Living people