Iranian Parliament Confirms Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as Minister of Defense
The Iranian parliament has appointed Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi to the Ministry of Defense, a position left vacant following the death of Aziz Nasirzadeh in February. Known for his experience in the defense industry, the new minister has pledged to strengthen military infrastructure and accelerate technological development.
The Iranian parliament confirmed Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as the new Minister of Defense in a vote held on Sunday. Replacing Majid Ebn al-Reza, who had been serving in an acting capacity following the death of Aziz Nasirzadeh in a US-Israeli attack in February, Akhlaqi has taken charge of the country's defense production and procurement processes.
Having served in the Iranian defense industry for many years and held senior roles in the aviation and missile sectors, Akhlaqi is also on the US and EU sanctions lists due to his defense work. In the program he presented to parliament, the new minister emphasized goals such as the reconstruction of military-industrial infrastructure, the development of defense technologies, and increasing cooperation with the private sector.
Taking a firm stance against potential US military moves, Akhlaqi stated that they are prepared for threats against Iran's defense capacity. Referring to US plans to use the GBU-43/B weapon, known as the 'mother of all bombs,' the minister stated that Iran's response in the event of a possible attack would be comprehensive and surprising.
Sources
- usnews.com · Link