Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister on Sunday, ending a period of interim leadership that began in February. According to Al-Monitor, the vote placed a veteran of the defence sector in charge of the nation’s production and procurement systems. Khaleej Times reported that Akhlaqi received 237 votes in favour out of 277 cast, a result confirmed by state television and the government website.
The new minister succeeds Aziz Nasirzadeh, who died in a US-Israeli strike on a leadership compound on February 28. Khaleej Times noted that Nasirzadeh’s death occurred alongside former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior military commanders. Akhlaqi, who has spent four decades in the defence ministry, has headed the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation since 2013. Although he lacks a formal military rank, Al-Monitor described him as a former aerospace and missile sector executive subject to US and EU sanctions.
Shortly after securing his vote of confidence, Akhlaqi addressed reporters with a warning to the United States. Asharq Al-Awsat reported that he threatened to inflict "enormous damage" on Washington and its regional allies if the military campaign resumes. He stated that the US and the region would suffer if they chose to attack again. Al-Monitor added that Akhlaqi specifically referenced the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, a weapon CNN reported the US is considering for strikes on Iranian energy and nuclear infrastructure.
The appointment comes as diplomatic tensions remain high. Al-Monitor reported that President Donald Trump recently suggested the window for a nuclear deal may be closing, threatening to target Pickaxe Mountain, a site linked to Iran’s centrifuge assembly. While Trump indicated that "productive discussions" are ongoing, he also ruled out the use of ground troops in a potential renewed conflict. Akhlaqi’s programme before lawmakers pledged to rebuild military-industrial infrastructure and expand private-sector cooperation, aiming to prepare the country for various strategic futures.