TEHRAN, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi was appointed Iran's defense minister on Monday by President Masoud Pezeshkian, after winning the parliament's vote of confidence the preceding day.
State-run Press TV noted that his selection is structurally striking, as Akhlaghi "is neither a general like his predecessors, nor a military officer in the conventional sense, but an engineer and industrial manager."
Why did Tehran select an engineer as its defense chief? What does his appointment imply for the country?
WHO IS AKHLAGHI?
Born in September 1958 in Iran's northern city of Rasht, Akhlaghi has nearly 43 years of experience in Iran's defense industry across engineering, project management, and industrial leadership.
He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology and a master's in strategic management from Malek Ashtar University of Technology.
In the 2000s, Akhlaghi headed the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, a subsidiary of the Defense Ministry's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) responsible for missile development and solid-fuel propulsion.
He became AIO managing director in 2014 and was later sanctioned by the United Nations and several Western countries for his role in developing Iran's missile technologies.
WHY WAS HE APPOINTED?
Akhlaghi's appointment comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. His predecessor, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, after which Seyed Majid Ebn Al-Reza served as acting minister.
Since the United States and Israel said their joint strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's missile production capability and infrastructure, Press TV said Tehran responded by putting "the man most associated with building that capability in charge of the ministry responsible for rebuilding and expanding it."
Iran's official news agency IRNA cited three core strengths behind his selection.
First, deep technical and production expertise. IRNA said Akhlaghi's experience allows him to translate specialized technical knowledge into organizational capacity.
Second, management experience bridging military requirements and industrial capacity. Such experience is viewed as key to aligning armed forces' requirements with production, aided by ties to commanders.
Third, resilience in overseeing defense organizations and allocating limited resources under wartime conditions. IRNA highlighted his ability to view an organization as a whole, set priorities, and allocate scarce resources during crises.
WHAT DOES HIS APPOINTMENT IMPLY?
At his induction ceremony on Monday, Akhlaghi stressed the necessity to maintain defense readiness without interruption to counter persistent threats and to timely meet the armed forces' needs.
At the confidence vote session on Sunday, he said Iran's advanced military equipment and weapons must be continuously upgraded, with a focus on developing and employing smart systems.
His priorities include improving missile precision, destructive power, and range; expanding air defense capabilities; and accelerating the development of drones, satellites, and naval vessels.
Also at the session, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of parliament's national security and foreign policy committee, said the Defense Ministry requires a new architecture based on future threats and opportunities, adding that Akhlaghi's specialized background in missiles and aerospace makes him well positioned to drive such a transformation. ■
