Full Breakdown
Iran’s Parliament Confirms Veteran Missile Engineer Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as Defense Minister
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Core Appointment and Vote
On October 18, 2026, the Islamic Consultative Assembly voted to confirm Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. Lawmakers cast 237 votes in favor, 15 against, with no abstentions out of 277 total votes, filling the vacancy created after the death of the previous minister during the early-2026 US-Israel strikes.
Background to the Vacancy
Aziz Nasirzadeh, the former defense minister, was killed in a US-Israeli attack on a leadership compound on February 28, 2026 (some reports cite March 1, 2026). Brigadier General Majid Ebn-al-Reza served as acting minister from March 2, 2026 until the new appointment.
Candidate’s Professional Profile
Akhlaqi Ketabchi has spent more than four decades in Iran’s defense-industrial complex, leading the Aerospace Industries Organization, chairing the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, and overseeing missile programs such as the Zelzal, Fateh-110 family and the hypersonic Fattah missile. He is listed on UN Security Council Resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1929, as well as sanctions by the United States, EU, UK, Switzerland, Australia and France for missile and nuclear-related activities.
Legislative Process and Presidential Support
President Masoud Pezeškian submitted Akhlaqi’s nomination on October 5, 2026 under Article 133 of the constitution. In a virtual address, Pezeškian said the nominee had been on a U.S. “assassination list” for 35 years and urged lawmakers to give a “strong vote of confidence,” noting Akhlaqi’s support across the army, the IRGC and security institutions.
Minister’s Stated Priorities
During the hearing, Akhlaqi outlined a program focused on:
- Rebuilding and expanding domestic defense-industrial infrastructure.
- Prioritizing research and development, especially in missile, UAV and satellite technology.
- Expanding the range and accuracy of surface-to-surface and cruise missiles and accelerating advanced UAV deployment.
- Achieving self-reliance in military satellite construction and launch.
- Strengthening logistical and financial support for Iran’s regional “Resistance Front.”
He warned that any renewed U.S. attack would provoke a “surprising and extensive” response, placing responsibility for regional and global consequences on the United States and its allies.
Official Statements & Responses
Akhlaqi emphasized that Iran faces a “strategically sensitive juncture” and that the ministry’s role is to ensure “scientific self-sufficiency.” President Pezeškian reiterated that Iran does not seek to initiate wars but will respond forcefully to aggression, describing the United States as a “bullying” power.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The US President should focus on ensuring his forces are withdrawn safely from our region. If he 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,” — Mehrdad Akhlaqi
- “Research is even more important to me at the Ministry of Defense than production,” — Mehrdad Akhlaqi
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact date of Aziz Nasirzadeh’s death: some cite February 28, 2026, others March 1, 2026. Both dates refer to the same US-Israeli strike, and the discrepancy remains unresolved.
Why It Matters
The appointment places a senior missile engineer at the helm of Iran’s defense ministry, shifting emphasis toward industrial-technical leadership. The new minister’s focus on rebuilding missile capabilities and expanding UAV and satellite programs could affect the strategic calculus of the United States, Israel and neighboring states, while his explicit warnings underscore the risk of heightened escalation if further attacks occur.