Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaghi as new defense minister

Iranian lawmakers on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country's new defense minister in a vote of confidence, the official news agency IRNA reported.

During an open session of the parliament, lawmakers voted 237 in favor and 15 against, with no abstentions, to confirm Akhlaghi. Iran's former Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.

Following his death, President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed Seyed Majid Ebn Al-Reza as acting defense minister. Akhlaghi previously served as managing director of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization.