Politics

Iran Names Mehrdad Akhlaghi as Defence Minister Amid Escalating Tensions

By Maziar Motamedi

Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, 68, has been approved by Iran’s parliament to serve as defence minister as the country faces an expected escalation of conflict with the United States. The vote, held online since the start of the US‑Israel war on Iran on February 28, saw 237 lawmakers in favour and 15 against. The position had been temporarily filled by Majid Ebn‑e Reza, who will now serve as Akhlaghi’s deputy.

Akhlaghi’s background is in ballistic missiles, aerospace technology and defence‑industrial production. He has more than 42 years of experience in the Defence Ministry and related organisations, including roles as head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, the Aerospace Industries Organization and the Defence Industries Organization. He is subject to United States and United Nations sanctions and has been involved in the development of several missile families, such as Sejjil and Zolfaghar, as well as precision‑guided weapons like the Almas missiles and Yasin guided bombs. He also has expertise in space launchers, research rockets and infrastructure linked to the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan.

President Masoud Pezeshkian and the parliament’s Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy approved Akhlaghi’s defence plans. Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic would defend its territorial integrity strongly and to the death against any aggression. He noted Akhlaghi’s experience and stated that the new minister would focus on rebuilding and expanding Iran’s military‑industrial infrastructure, which has been heavily targeted by the US and Israel.

Akhlaghi told parliament this month that he had met with senior military commanders, including IRGC commander‑in‑chief Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, to better understand their needs during and after the war. His priorities include faster military‑industrial development, air defences, integration of emerging technologies through government and private sector firms, improvements in armed‑forces welfare and development of international military cooperation.

In his first remarks as minister, Akhlaghi criticised the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had threatened to use a “mother of all bombs” on Iran’s nuclear and energy infrastructure. He said, “We have made preparations and continue our work with ease of mind. The U.S. president must think of getting his forces out of our region in one piece. If he drops one bomb, he must see how many of his troops he will have to evacuate horizontally.”