Iranian military officer and former Minister of Defence (2024–2026)
Iran has approved a new defence minister with decades in the defence industry, aiming to accelerate war-era weapons development and protect strategic facilities as tensions rise in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran vows to respond to threats with extensive retaliation, as US-Israeli actions and regional responses escalate the conflict.
Iran has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defence minister and armed forces logistics chief, amid a war with the United States. Akhlaghi, a veteran official, vows careful assessment of the environment and trends as he steps into a sensitive role. The UN had sanctioned him in 2007 over alleged nuclear or ballistic-missile activities.