He served as deputy minister of culture for international affairs.[7] He was Iran's ambassador to Kuwait from 1998 to 2005 and deputy interior minister for political affairs from 2005 to 2006.[8]
Culture Ministry
He was nominated as culture and Islamic guidance minister by PresidentHassan Rouhani on 4 August 2013[5] and was confirmed by the Majlis on 15 August, receiving 234 votes for and 36 votes against.[4] 12 Majlis members were absent in the voting session.[9]
In February 2015, he was harshly criticized by conservatives after the music album To Ra Ey Kohan Boomo Bar Doost Daram was published.[10] He was also criticized by reformists after his functions in cancellation of concerts in some cities. He resigned on 19 October 2016 as part of a cabinet reshuffle, after days of speculations about his dismissal by President Hassan Rouhani.