Iran’s parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi (also reported as Mehrdad Akhlaghi/Akhlaqi Ketabchi) as the country’s defence minister, ending a period in which the ministry was led by an interim figure. Multiple outlets report the decision follows the killing of the previous defence minister during strikes attributed to US and Israeli forces earlier this year.
Akhlaqi replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who is described as taking over in an interim capacity after Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in February. One outlet also links Akhlaqi to Iran’s missile and Revolutionary Guards-affiliated defence sector, citing his background and past sanctions, while Reuters coverage (cited by Al-Monitor) frames him as a veteran of Iran’s defence production and procurement apparatus. Outlets broadly agree on the timeline: a death in February, interim leadership thereafter, and parliamentary approval on Sunday. The reports emphasize internal leadership change rather than new policy details, focusing on Akhlaqi’s appointment and the transition away from interim control.
