His career advanced significantly during the tenure of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi at Astan Quds Razavi, one of Iran’s most influential charitable and religious institutions. There, Saqab Esfahani served as the Director General of Planning and Performance Improvement within the Deputy for the Elimination of Deprivation. His work primarily focused on poverty reduction, development projects in marginalized areas, and administrative reforms aimed at improving efficiency.
In addition to his role at Astan Quds, he contributed to the Alavi Foundation and participated in research activities at the Strategic Think Tank of the Second Step of the Revolution, an ideological institute dedicated to implementing the new generation of revolutionary policies outlined in Ayatollah Khamenei’s “Second Step” declaration.
In Farvardin 1401, President Raisi appointed him as the Secretary of the Transformation Leadership Headquarters and the official responsible for Monitoring and Oversight of the People’s Government Transformation Document—a major administrative framework intended to renew government efficiency and public trust.
Following Raisi’s unexpected death in 1403, footage of Saqab Esfahani crying during a live broadcast circulated widely. He confessed publicly that he regretted moments of sternness or misunderstanding in his interactions with Raisi, asking for forgiveness and expressing deep loyalty to the former president. The video became symbolic of the emotional impact Raisi’s death had on close associates.
