He is considered to be close to the Principlists and to be part of the inner circle of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

His father, Mohammad-Bagher Bagheri, is a Shiite cleric who served as a member of the Assembly of Experts, while his uncle, Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, later led the same body.

[3][4] His brother, Mesbah al-Hoda Bagheri Kani, is a son-in-law of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

[10] Kani served as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs on 20 May 2024, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash.

[11] On 3 June 2024, he made his first overseas visit as foreign minister to Lebanon,[12] during which he confirmed that the Iranian government was engaged in negotiations with the United States hosted by Oman.