Iran Parliament Confirms Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as New Defense Minister

Iran's parliament confirms Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as defense minister, ending months of interim leadership following the death of his predecessor.

Editorial Desk

October 18, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Tehran, Iran — Iran’s parliament officially confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the nation’s new defense minister on Sunday. The appointment concludes a period of interim leadership that followed the death of the previous minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during the onset of the conflict with the United States and Israel in February.

Lawmakers signaled strong support for the nominee, with 237 members voting in favor of his appointment. Out of 277 total votes cast, 15 lawmakers voted against the measure, and there were no abstentions.

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President Masoud Pezeshkian had formally nominated Akhlaghi Ketabchi to lead the ministry. The new minister brings extensive experience to the role, having served as a longtime official within the Ministry of Defense with deep involvement in the country’s missile and space industries.

The confirmation brings a permanent head to the ministry, which had been managed by Majid Ebn al-Reza in an acting capacity since the death of Nasirzadeh. Akhlaghi Ketabchi is now tasked with overseeing Iran’s defense production and procurement operations.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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