Skip to main content
See the bias in every story
Published • loading... • Updated

Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defense

Lawmakers backed the veteran missile-industry official after he pledged to rebuild damaged military-industrial infrastructure and expand defense technology production.

  • On Sunday, Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlachi Ketabchi as defense minister with 237 votes in favor out of 277 cast, ending months of interim leadership at the ministry.
  • Akhlachi replaces interim leader Majid Ebn al-Reza following the February death of former Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in a US-Israeli strike that killed senior military commanders.
  • Subject to United Nations sanctions since 2007 for alleged ballistic missile involvement, Akhlachi has spent 42 years in Iran's defense ministry and pledged to rebuild military-industrial infrastructure.
  • CNN reported this week that the United States developed strike plans using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the "mother of all bombs," targeting Iranian nuclear sites if President Donald Trump orders renewed combat operations.
  • Akhlachi warned that if the President "drops a single bomb, he will have to see how many of his troops end up being carried out of the region in a horizontal position," while Tehran claims it has taken necessary measures to counter potential US attacks.
Insights by Ground AI

163 Articles

Lean Right

Iran's parliament on Tuesday approved the appointment of Mehrdad Ahlaghi as defense minister, eight months after the death of his predecessor, who was killed in late February on the first day of the Middle East war. Ahlaghi succeeds Revolutionary Guards General Majid Ebnelreza, who had taken over the post temporarily after the death of former defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in US and Israeli airstrikes in February.

Read Full Article

Mehrdad Ajlaqi assumed office as Iran's Defense Minister and warned that the U.S. and its allies would suffer enormous damage if Washington resumed attacks.

Read Full Article
Lean Left

NEW Iranian Defense Minister Mehrdad Ahlaki said that Iran is ready for a conflict with Israel, that it is moving military production to safe locations and announced the flight of a domestic fighter plane next year.

·Zagreb, Croatia
Read Full Article
Center

"People can be sure that, very probably, they won't dare attack us," he said.

Read Full Article
Far Left

In a regular plenary session of the vote, the Iranian parliament approved Akhlaghi this Sunday as the new defense minister.

·Caracas, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Read Full Article
Lean Left

Iran's new Defense Minister is Mehrdad Ahlaghi Ketambchi The post Iran: New Defense Minister Threatens "Huge Damage" to the Region if the US Attacks appeared first on in.gr.

·Greece
Read Full Article
Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 46% of the sources lean Right
46% Right

Factuality Info Icon

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

Info Icon

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

der Standard AT broke the news in Vienna, Austria on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
Too Big Arrow Icon
Sources are mostly out of (0)

Similar News Topics

News
Feed Dots Icon
For You
Search Icon
Search
Blindspot LogoBlindspotLocal