Iran’s parliament on Sunday approved the appointment of Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the Islamic Republic’s new minister of defense, state media reported. The confirmation brings an end to months during which the ministry operated under an acting director, following the elimination of former defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in joint strikes carried out by Israel and the United States this past February.
Photo: IRNA News Agency X page
During the parliamentary confirmation debate, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made an unusually blunt assessment regarding the immediate physical dangers surrounding the position. Pezeshkian claimed to lawmakers that Ketabchi appears on an American assassination target list, openly expressing hope that the newly confirmed minister manages to survive his time in office.
The new defense chief previously led the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) and is considered a veteran figure within the regime’s military-industrial complex, having played prominent roles in advancing domestic ballistic missile and aerospace programs. Due to his extensive contributions to Iran’s military development and defense apparatus, Ketabchi has long been subjected to international economic and security sanctions. Ketabchi’s formal confirmation concludes an extended period of interim administration at the Defense Ministry, coming at a critical juncture as Tehran works to reconstitute its strategic military capabilities and restore degraded command echelons after widespread strikes on its defense infrastructure.