Iran: parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defence minister
The appointment was approved on 18 October. State news agency IRNA reports 237 votes in favour and 15 against, with 277 lawmakers present.
Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country’s new defence minister on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The development is confirmed by state news agency IRNA and also reported by Reuters and ANA-MPA.
IRNA records 237 votes in favour and 15 against, with 277 lawmakers present. President Masoud Pezeshkian submitted the nomination on 5 October. Today’s approval is the outcome of the parliamentary process, not merely a scheduled vote.
Interim leadership ends
Akhlaghi succeeds Majid Ibn al-Reza, who had served as acting minister following Aziz Nasirzadeh’s death in February.
The new minister comes from the defence industry. IRNA reports that his previous roles included leading the Aerospace Industries Organization; Reuters describes his new remit as overseeing defence production and procurement.
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