The 28-year-old Aghili is the only Iranian in the list of 15 players shortlisted for the prestigious award which was announced by the AFC website on Thursday.
Three players from Japan, two Saudi and DPR Korea players have also made the cut. Bahrain, Syria, China, Indonesia, Qatar, Uzbekistan and Maldives have one nominee for the award.
The list will be revised after each match day until the lucky winner is announced on November 24 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The best player of Asia is chosen on the basis of a weighted ranking system which takes into account Most Valuable Player nominations at key AFC and FIFA tournaments.
Bunyodkor's Uzbekistan international midfielder Server Djeparov is the reigning AFC Player of the Year.
The Nominees include:
Alexander Geynrikh (Uzbekistan) Pakhtakor
Ali Ashfaq (Maldives) VB
Baba Malick (Qatar) Umm Salal
Firas Al Khatib (Syria) Al Arabi/Al Qadsiya
Hadi Aghili (Iran) Sepahan
Hong Yong Jo (North Korea) Rostov, Russia
Kengo Nakamura, (Japan) Kawasaki Frontale
Li Weifeng (China) Suwon Bluewings, Korea
Markus Rihihina (Indonesia) PSMS Medan
Maya Yoshida, (Japan) Nagoya Grampus
Mohammed Noor, (Saudi Arabia) Al Ittihad
Nassir Al Shamrani, (Saudi Arabia) Al Shabab
Ri Myong Guk (North Korea) Pyongyang Athletics Club
Sayed Mohamed Adnan (Bahrain) Al Khor
Yasuhito Endo, (Japan) Gamba Osaka