Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, a longtime executive in Iran’s defence-industrial sector, was approved by parliament on October 18, 2026, as the country’s new minister of defence and armed forces logistics.
The 68-year-old, born in 1958 in Rasht, replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that marked the start of the current conflict. An acting minister, Majid Ebn al-Reza, had led the ministry in the interim.
Background and Education
Akhlaghi studied chemical engineering at Amir Kabir University of Technology before earning a master’s degree in strategic management from Malek Ashtar University of Technology, an institution affiliated with Iran’s Defence Ministry. He entered the defence industries in the early 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war, when domestic production became a priority due to international isolation.
His career spans more than four decades in technical, industrial and managerial roles within the Defence Ministry and related organisations, according to Iranian state media and independent reporting.
Key Positions in Aerospace and Missile Programs
Akhlaghi previously headed the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, served as managing director of the Aerospace Industries Organization starting around 2014, and later led the Defence Industries Organization. These roles placed him at the centre of Iran’s ballistic missile development, solid-fuel propulsion systems and aerospace technology efforts.
State-linked reports credit him with contributions to the Sejjil and Zolfaghar families of ballistic missiles, as well as precision-guided weapons such as the Almas missiles and Yasin guided bombs. He has also been linked to work on space launchers, research rockets and infrastructure at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan.
His involvement in the missile programme dates back to projects like the Fateh-110, facilitated in part by his reported close relationship with Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a key figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile efforts.
Sanctions and International Scrutiny
Akhlaghi and the organisations he has led face US sanctions. He is also subject to United Nations sanctions imposed in 2007 over alleged involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile activities, and European Union measures have been reported in connection with his roles.
Despite these restrictions, Iranian officials have emphasised his experience in sustaining and advancing domestic production capabilities under sanctions.
Parliamentary Approval and Immediate Statements
President Masoud Pezeshkian nominated Akhlaghi on October 5. Parliament, meeting virtually due to security concerns, approved him with 237 votes in favour and 15 against out of 277 cast.
Following the vote, Akhlaghi warned that any resumption of US attacks would cause “enormous damage” to the United States and the region. He stated that Iran had prepared for potential use of the US GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb and claimed to have been on an assassination list for 35 years. He also pledged to rebuild military-industrial infrastructure and strengthen what Iran calls the axis of resistance.
Technology Priorities Outlined
In presentations to lawmakers, Akhlaghi highlighted plans to expand missile production with improvements in accuracy, range and destructive power; advance drone capabilities across stealth, long-range, combat, reconnaissance and counter-drone systems; strengthen air defences; and develop military satellites suited to defence requirements.
Additional focus areas include electronic warfare, radar, naval systems, cyber operations and emerging technologies. He described contemporary threats as encompassing sanctions, cyberattacks, supply-chain issues and information warfare, and stressed the need to adapt the ministry’s structure accordingly.
His emphasis on technological advancement in defence production aligns with broader efforts to integrate private-sector capabilities and maintain supply chains under pressure.
Significance in Current Context
The appointment comes as Iran seeks to stabilise defence leadership during a period of heightened tensions. Unlike many predecessors, Akhlaghi does not hold a military rank and comes from the industrial and technical side of the defence establishment rather than uniformed service.
This background positions him to oversee procurement, production and technological development directly. His tenure will likely involve continued work on ballistic and precision systems, unmanned aerial vehicles and space-related defence assets, areas that have drawn sustained international attention due to their role in regional dynamics.
Similar themes of technological capability and workforce implications in defence and related fields appear in coverage of artificial intelligence developments, such as the nuanced expert views explored in Will AI Replace Humans? Experts Offer Nuanced Views on Jobs and Capabilities.
Broader Implications for Iran’s Defence Sector
Akhlaghi’s elevation underscores the importance Iran places on its domestic military-industrial base amid external pressures. The ministry he now leads coordinates logistics and production for the armed forces, areas central to sustaining operations in a sanctions-heavy environment.
Observers note that his experience could facilitate incremental advances in missile accuracy and drone autonomy, as well as efforts to diversify production beyond traditional state facilities. At the same time, the sanctions regime he has long operated under remains in place, limiting access to certain components and technologies.
His public comments have stressed readiness and deterrence, framing the ministry’s role in both conventional and non-traditional domains of conflict. As the conflict with the United States and Israel continues, the new minister’s technical background may influence how Iran prioritises investment in aerospace, propulsion and related fields.
Multiple independent outlets, including state media and international reporting, have corroborated the timeline of his nomination, approval and career highlights, providing a consistent picture of a defence-industry veteran assuming a senior political post at a critical juncture.
