Dr. Behzad SABERI ANSARI (Iranian National) assumed the charge of the Deputy Secretary General (Trade & Investment, Agriculture & Industries (AI) and Transport & Communications) at the ECO Secretariat in September 2025.
Born in 1978, Mr. Saberi is married and has three children. He holds a PhD in International Law from Tehran University; and has given lectures on various legal and international topics in different academic institutions and fora.
His professional background prior to joining the E.C.O Secretariat includes:
Advisor to the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Director General for International Legal Affairs, MFA, Iran
Assistant to the Foreign Minister
Advisor to Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs
Alternate Permanent Representative of Iran to United Nations Office in Vienna
Deputy Director, Division for Disputes and Private International Law
Legal Officer in the Iranian Embassy – The Hague, Netherlands
Advisor to Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal & International Affairs
Legal Officer, International Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran
Assistant to the Rector, School of International Relations, Iran
During his career as a diplomat, has served as head / member of delegations of the Islamic Republic of Iran in numerous international fora and diplomatic conferences including but not limited to assemblies, conferences, commissions, boards and working-groups related to:
- United Nations Conference on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- Administrative Council of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- UN Conference on Disarmament (CD)
- Assembly of States parties to the Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
He has also been a senior member of the Iranian negotiating team in various rounds of nuclear/sanctions-lifting negotiations in the past couple of years.