Career
Madani joined the Iranian Navy in 1950 and was sent for training to the United Kingdom. Subsequently, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in law and taught political science and economy at Kerman and Qazvin universities in Iran until the Islamic Revolution. In the last period of the Shah Madani was the commander of Iranian navy, but he was removed from post due to his criticisms of corruption in the navy.
After the revolution, he served as the first defense minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Then he was appointed governor of Khuzestan. During this period he ended the separatist plots and crises in Khuzestan.
He became a candidate in the first Iranian presidential election (25 January 1980) but lost to Abolhassan Banisadr.