Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defence minister on Sunday, nearly eight months after his predecessor was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
The post is Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, according to Iran's Mehr and Borna news outlets. The vote took place on Sunday 18 October.
Borna reported that the session was open and held virtually, and that lawmakers heard supporters and opponents of the nominee speak before voting. Mr Akhlaghi is also written as Akhlaghi Ketabchi in some reports.
State television said: "Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) today gave a vote of confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nominee for minister of defence and armed forces logistics." The quote was carried by Macau Business.
Reports differed on the tally. The Xinhua news agency, citing the Iranian state news agency IRNA, said 237 lawmakers voted in favour and 15 against, with no abstentions.
Borna News gave the same figures and said 277 votes were cast. The reports did not explain the difference between the totals.
ETV Bharat, citing the Iranian government website, said Mr Akhlaghi "was elected to the post with 237 votes in favour" out of 277 cast.
Mr Akhlaghi succeeds Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed on 28 February in US-Israeli strikes, according to Xinhua, ETV Bharat and Arab News. Xinhua said President Masoud Pezeshkian then appointed Seyed Majid Ebn Al-Reza as acting minister.
The ministry therefore ran under an acting minister for the period between the strikes and Sunday's vote.
ETV Bharat reported that Mr Akhlaghi has worked in the defence ministry for 42 years and holds no military rank. It said he has headed the Defence Industries Organisation since 2013. Xinhua said he previously managed the Aerospace Industries Organization.
ETV Bharat also reported that the United Nations sanctioned him in 2007 over alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities. The sanctions are based on allegations made by the UN and Western governments. No Iranian response to them was found.
Iran International, an opposition outlet, said the European Union and Britain also sanctioned him, in 2023. It said his name appeared on UN lists after sanctions were reimposed in September 2025.
Iran International also described him as an architect of the Revolutionary Guards' missiles. That is the outlet's own characterisation, and it was not confirmed by other reports.
Iran International said his priorities include missile production and air defences, according to its report. The claim has not been confirmed by the government.
No response to the appointment from the United States or Israel had been reported. Mr Akhlaghi, Mr Pezeshkian and other Iranian officials had not been quoted in the reports reviewed.
The defence ministry oversees defence production and procurement. Under Iran's system, the president nominates ministers and parliament must give each a vote of confidence before they take office.
On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities, according to Xinhua. The agency said the strikes killed the then Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as well as senior military commanders, officials and civilians.
Xinhua said Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and on US bases and assets in the region. It said Iran also tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Borna refers to the conflict as the "40-day war". Iranian outlets including Mehr describe Mr Nasirzadeh's death in terms of the attacks being criminal, a view attributed here to those outlets.
No date had been reported for an official swearing-in of Mr Akhlaghi. Reaction from Washington and Israel to his confirmation had also not been reported.
