Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi, Iran’s new tech-focused defence minister?

Akhlaghi’s experience centres on ballistic missiles, aerospace technology and defence-industrial production. Save Share Tehran, Iran –Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi has been appointed Iran’s defence minister at a time when thewar with the United Statesis expected to escalate. The 68-year-old was approved on Sunday by parliament, which has convened online since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran on February 28, to assume leadership of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics. In total, 237 lawmakers voted in favour of Akhlaghi’s appointment and 15 against. Former Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed along with a large number of other senior figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on the opening day of the war. The position was filled temporarily by Majid Ebn-e Reza, who will now become Akhlaghi’s deputy. Akhlaghi will be responsible for rebuilding and expanding Iran’s military-industrial infrastructure, which has been heavily targeted by the US and Israel. The new minister’s defence plans were approved earlier by senior military authorities, President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament’s Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the instigator of aggression against any country but will defend the territorial integrity of the country strongly and to the death against any aggression,” Pezeshkian said.