Tehran has appointed 68-year-old Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister, a move occurring as the ongoing war with the United States is anticipated to intensify. Parliament approved his leadership of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics on Sunday with a 237-15 vote. Since the conflict began on February 28, the legislature has been conducting its business online. In total, 237 lawmakers voted in favour of Akhlaghi’s appointment and 15 against.
The position became vacant after former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed on the first day of the war in an attack that also claimed the lives of numerous senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Majid Ebn-e Reza, who held the role on an interim basis, will transition into the post of deputy minister under Akhlaghi.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, who supported the nomination, noted that Akhlaghi brings over 42 years of experience within the defence apparatus.
His strategic plans received prior endorsement from senior military leadership and the parliament’s Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy. Emphasizing the nation’s stance, Pezeshkian stated that while Iran will not initiate aggression, it is committed to defending its territorial integrity against any threat.
Akhlaghi’s background centers on missile technology, solid-fuel propulsion, and industrial production. He previously helmed the Aerospace Industries Organization, the Defence Industries Organization, and the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group. His involvement in these roles has resulted in sanctions against him by both the United Nations and the United States.
According to reports, his technical expertise includes the development of the Sejjil and Zolfaghar ballistic missile series, as well as precision weaponry like Almas missiles and Yasin guided bombs. He has also been deeply involved in space-related infrastructure, including research rockets and space launchers at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan. According to Tasnim, a newspaper linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he has been associated with developing several missile types and related weapons-development projects over the past decades.
Defence Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik explained that the appointment reflects a national push to improve the quality and volume of strategic arms. While the US claims that Iran’s military-industrial base has been largely crippled, Tehran asserts that it retains significant offensive capabilities and continues to refine its weaponry based on current combat data. The spokesman emphasized that “offensive arms are being actively improved.” Which has been heavily targeted by the US and Israel, akhlaghi will be responsible for rebuilding and expanding Iran’s military-industrial infrastructure. But Tehran has maintained it continues to have considerable offensive and defensive capabilities outside the reach of US and Israeli bombs, the US has repeatedly claimed that it has destroyed most of Iran’s military-industrial capacities.
Discussing his priorities, the new minister indicated that he has been consulting with top commanders, including IRGC commander-in-chief Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, to assess wartime requirements. His stated focus includes accelerating industrial development, strengthening air defences, and integrating private and government technology sectors.
In his first remarks upon taking office, Akhlaghi dismissed threats from the administration of US President Donald Trump regarding the potential use of the “mother of all bombs” on Iranian energy and nuclear facilities. “We have made preparations and continue our work with ease of mind,” he told the press, warning that the US should focus on withdrawing its forces safely. “If he drops one bomb, he must see how many of his troops he will have to evacuate horizontally,” he added.
