📰 5 sources 8 articles · 18 Oct 2026, 11:15 → 26 days ago

Iranian Parliament Confirms Mehrdad Akhlaghi as Defense Minister

Iran's parliament granted confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister, ending months of vacancy at the head of the ministry after the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in US-Israeli strikes. After the vote of 237 in favor to 15 against, the new minister made remarks about US threats and addressed a message to President Donald Trump.

📍 Where things stand: Akhlaghi has formally taken over the defense ministry and says the armed forces have drawn up plans to confront US threats, warning of consequences of any military escalation.

⏱️ Timeline

18 Oct 2026, 11:15 Iranian television reported that Iran's Consultative Assembly (parliament) granted confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi to become defense minister, completing the parliamentary voting process for the post.
18 Oct 2026, 12:50 Iran's parliament approved the appointment of Mehrdad Akhlaghi Katebchi as defense minister, ending months of vacancy at the ministry, which had been run on a caretaker basis since the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in US-Israeli strikes on Iran late last February, before Majid Ibn al-Reza was tasked with running its affairs. President Masoud Pezeshkian nominated him on October 6; he is associated with the missile and drone industries and is subject to sanctions.
18 Oct 2026, 19:34 Iran's parliament granted confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister after he obtained 237 votes against 15, succeeding Aziz Nasirzadeh. In his first remarks, Akhlaghi warned the United States against turning its threats into military steps, asserting that Tehran has completed precautionary measures to confront any attack, amid continued tension and exchanged threats with Israel and the United States.
18 Oct 2026, 22:12 Iran's parliament approved by an overwhelming majority of 237 votes the appointment of engineer Mehrdad Akhlaghi Katebchi as defense minister and head of the armed forces, succeeding former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in joint air strikes earlier this year. Akhlaghi, born in the city of Rasht in 1958, is the first civilian to hold the post without progressing through military ranks, and his mission is to rebuild damaged missile and air capabilities and accelerate domestic military production.
19 Oct 2026, 00:58 Iran's new defense minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi said after receiving parliament's confidence that the armed forces have drawn up the necessary plans and measures to confront US threats, warning that turning these threats from statements into actual measures would have tangible consequences. He addressed a message to US President Donald Trump stressing the need to focus on mechanisms for the safe withdrawal of US forces from the region, warning that any military escalation would impose grave challenges on the safety of the forces.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

⚠️ Sources disagree

Timing of the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh

in US-Israeli strikes that targeted Iran late last February according to Lebanon Debate
killed in joint air strikes earlier this year according to جريدة القدس

Figures as each outlet reported them at the time. We do not judge which is correct; numbers often change as events develop.

How the sources covered it

Some coverage focused on the parliamentary vote details and the background of the ministry's vacancy, others on the new minister's biography and tasks, while others centered on his statements toward Washington and his message to Trump; one outlet carried the news only in a brief roundup.

Lebanon Debate Led with the Iranian television report on the confidence vote, then highlighted the end of months of vacancy at the ministry, the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in US-Israeli strikes late last February, his nomination date of October 6, his ties to missile and drone industries and that he is subject to sanctions.
annahhar.com Listed Mehrdad Akhlaghi Katebchi's taking over of the Iranian defense ministry within its evening "5 o'clock" roundup alongside other unrelated news, without details on the vote or the statements.
عين ليبيا Highlighted the vote tally (237 to 15) and the succession of Aziz Nasirzadeh, and focused on the new minister's first remarks warning Washington against turning its threats into military steps and asserting Tehran had completed precautionary measures.
جريدة القدس Emphasized the new minister's biography: born in Rasht in 1958 and the first civilian to hold the post without progressing through military ranks, and his mission to rebuild missile and air capabilities and accelerate domestic military production.
CNN Arabic Focused on Akhlaghi's remarks after receiving confidence about plans to confront US threats, and on his message to Donald Trump regarding mechanisms for the safe withdrawal of US forces from the region.