Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi? Iran’s New Defence Minister

Iran has a new head for its military ministry. Mehrdad Akhlaghi, also written as Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, has been confirmed as the Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.

Iran’s Parliament Approves Mehrdad Akhlaghi as New Defense Minister on 18th October, 2026

On Sunday, October 18, Iran’s parliament backed the nomination of Mehrdad Akhlaghi. Of the 277 lawmakers present, 237 voted in favour and 15 voted against, as reported by the state news agency IRNA. President Masoud Pezeshkian had proposed his name on October 5. After the vote, Pezeshkian said the result showed unity and hoped the new minister would make Iran’s defence capabilities stronger.

Mehrdad Akhlaghi replaces Brigadier General Majid Ibn al-Reza

Akhlaghi takes over from Brigadier General Majid Ibn al-Reza, who had been running the ministry as acting minister since February 28. That was the day the then defence minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed along with several other military officials in a US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran. The attack came on the first day of the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel. The ministry therefore spent months under interim leadership before this appointment.

Mehrdad Akhlaghi Defence Industry Background

Mehrdad Akhlaghi was born in 1958 in Rasht, a city in northern Iran. He is a senior executive from the country’s defence industry. He earlier headed the Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group and served as managing director of the Aerospace Industries Organization.

How is Mehrdad Akhlaghi's appointment as minister of Iran important?

During the parliamentary review, Pezeshkian defended the nominee by pointing to his steady rise through technical and scientific roles within the Defence Ministry. His industry experience is expected to be central to his work as minister. Pezeshkian has also stated that Iran did not start a war with any country and will not give in to outside pressure.