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Iran Appoints Missile Expert Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as New Defence Minister
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Moneycontrol•19-10-2026, 22:32
Iran Appoints Missile Expert Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as New Defence Minister
- •Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi was appointed Iran's new defence minister, securing 237 votes in parliament.
- •He replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
- •Akhlaghi brings 42 years of experience in Iran's defence industry, specializing in ballistic missiles, solid-fuel propulsion, and aerospace technology.
- •He has previously headed the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation, Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, and Aerospace Industries Organisation.
- •His appointment comes amid heightened military tensions and threats of escalation from the United States and Israel.
Key Questions Answered
Iran has appointed 68-year-old Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as its new defence minister after he secured 237 votes in favour out of 277 total votes cast in parliament.
Former Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed alongside several other senior Iranian figures during US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
Akhlaghi has faced international restrictions imposed by the United States and the European Union, and was specifically sanctioned by the United Nations in 2007 over his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.
