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Iranian Parliament Confirms Mehrdad Akhlaghi as Defense Minister

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 2:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Iranian Parliament Appoints Akhlaghi

Iranian Parliament appointed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister on October 18, 2026.
Lawmakers approved the appointment by a 237-to-15 vote, with no abstentions out of 277 votes.
He succeeds Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026.
Akhlaghi brings 42 years of defense experience and previously led the Aerospace Industries Organization.
He warned a U.S.-Israeli miscalculation would provoke extensive Iranian retaliation.

Summary

Akhlaghi Promotes Self-Sufficiency

Akhlaghi pledged to raise outsourced defense components to 75% in 1405 SH, exceeding 85% the next year.
Akhlaghi warned Iran now confronts hybrid warfare blending cyberattacks, information operations, and conventional military pressure.
Akhlaghi announced a 22-month program to develop stealth, long-range, combat and counter-drone UAVs.
Akhlaghi said Iran must build and launch its own military satellites without foreign assistance.

History

Historical Context

1979 revolution toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, installed Ayatollah Khomeini, leaving armed forces in disarray and spurring indigenous weapons development. Decades later, in 2026 Mehrdad Akhlaghi was named head of the Ministry of Defense, pledging to raise locally made defense components, continuing the self-reliance drive born from the post-revolutionary crisis.

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Iranian Parliament Appoints Akhlaghi

Iranian Parliament appointed Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister on October 18, 2026.
Lawmakers approved the appointment by a 237-to-15 vote, with no abstentions out of 277 votes.
He succeeds Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, killed in a U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026.
Akhlaghi brings 42 years of defense experience and previously led the Aerospace Industries Organization.
He warned a U.S.-Israeli miscalculation would provoke extensive Iranian retaliation.

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