Iran Parliament Approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as Defense Minister

Iran's parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country's new defense minister, installing a heavily sanctioned missile-program veteran to rebuild the nation's military infrastructure. The Sunday vote ends an eight-month interim leadership period that began when his predecessor was killed during the opening strikes of the US-Israeli war in February.[1][3]

Lawmakers confirmed Akhlaghi by a sweeping majority vote during a virtual parliamentary session. Prior to the balloting, parliamentary committees presented formal reports reviewing the nominee's qualifications, focusing heavily on his extensive background in domestic weapons manufacturing and logistics.[1][2]

During the online session, representatives engaged in a structured debate over the nomination, with designated lawmakers speaking both in favor of and against the proposed minister. Supporters highlighted his technical expertise and deep institutional knowledge as essential assets for wartime procurement.[1][2]

Akhlaghi officially succeeds acting defense minister Brigadier General Majid Ebn al-Reza, who had managed the portfolio since the spring. Ebn al-Reza assumed the caretaker role after then-Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh died in the initial February 28 bombardment launched by Washington and Tel Aviv.[3]

Industrial weapons background

Unlike several previous defense ministers who rose through traditional military command positions, Akhlaghi built his career entirely inside Iran's weapons manufacturing establishment. He entered the defense sector in the early 1980s and has spent more than four decades overseeing industrial organizations involved in missile production and military procurement.[2][4]

A significant portion of his career has been dedicated to solid-fuel missile propulsion systems and ballistic missile development. Akhlaghi previously headed the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, a key subsidiary of the Aerospace Industries Organization heavily involved in the nation's ballistic missile program.[4][5]

In November 2014, he was appointed managing director of the Aerospace Industries Organization. He later served as the head of the Defense Industries Organization, which supplies conventional weapons to the armed forces, cementing his status as a central figure in Iran's military-industrial complex.[4][5]

His decades-long involvement in Iran's missile and nuclear-delivery systems has made him a prominent target for international pressure. The first Trump administration sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2020 in connection with his directorship of the Defense Industries Organization.[2][4]

He is also subject to ongoing sanctions from the European Union and the United Nations. Western governments have repeatedly cited his work on systems capable of delivering nuclear payloads as justification for isolating him from the global financial system.[2][4]

Warnings of US casualties

In his first address following the confirmation, the new minister issued a direct threat regarding potential American strikes on Iranian energy or nuclear sites. "Trump should be thinking about getting his people out of the region safely," Akhlaghi told lawmakers on Sunday.[4]

"If he drops one bomb, he should see how many of his people he will have to carry out horizontally," Akhlaghi added, explicitly referencing potential US casualties. He warned that any new US attack on Iranian soil would trigger a broad and severe response from the armed forces.[4]

His remarks followed recent reports that the US military had developed strike plans utilizing massive bunker-buster munitions. These specialized weapons are reportedly being considered for use against deeply buried Iranian nuclear facilities if the conflict escalates further.[4]

To counter these threats, Akhlaghi submitted a comprehensive program to parliament prioritizing the reconstruction of Iran's defense industrial base. The sector has faced significant operational pressure and infrastructure damage during eight months of sustained allied airstrikes.[2][4]

The new minister outlined specific medium-term agendas for weapons procurement and enhancement. He vowed to increase the accuracy, range, and destructive power of surface-to-surface and cruise missiles to strengthen national deterrence against technologically superior adversaries.[4]

Rebuilding the drone arsenal

His program also emphasizes the mass production of various unmanned aerial vehicles, including long-range, stealth, combat, and reconnaissance drones. The Defense Ministry's ability to produce these systems cheaply and in large quantities remains a critical component of Tehran's asymmetric military posture.[4]

A central pillar of Akhlaghi's strategy involves expanding cooperation with private-sector companies to bypass state bottlenecks. By integrating civilian manufacturing networks into the military supply chain, the Defense Ministry aims to rapidly restock depleted arsenals and accelerate the development of new defense technologies.[2]

Executing this industrial expansion will require navigating severe financial constraints. The Iranian economy continues to struggle under sweeping international sanctions, limiting the Defense Ministry's access to foreign currency and advanced dual-use components essential for modern weapons manufacturing.[2]

Born in 1958, the 68-year-old official brings a highly technical academic background to the defense portfolio. He holds a degree in chemical engineering, providing a foundation for his early work in solid-fuel propulsion systems.[5]

Akhlaghi later earned a master's degree in strategic management from a university directly affiliated with the Defense Ministry. This academic pathway allowed him to build a vast network among the engineers and scientists driving Iran's military research.[5]

Ties to the Revolutionary Guard

His rise through the ranks was heavily influenced by his close relationship with the principal founders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' missile program. Together, they collaborated on several foundational projects, including the Fateh-110 short-range ballistic missile.[4][5]

The parliamentary confirmation helps stabilize Iran's top defense leadership as the government anticipates further combat operations in the Gulf. The immediate challenge for Akhlaghi will be shielding his newly expanded production facilities from the very airstrikes that killed his predecessor.[3][4]