📰 1 source 3 articles · 18 Oct 2026, 11:15 → 2 hours ago

Iranian Parliament Grants Confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi as Defense Minister

Iran's Shura Council voted to grant confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi (Katabji) as defense minister, ending months of vacancy at the head of the ministry, which had been run on a caretaker basis. This followed his nomination by President Masoud Pezeshkian on October 6, and the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in American and Israeli strikes on Iran late last February.

📍 Where things stand: Mehrdad Akhlaghi Katabji has become defense minister after the parliamentary vote, ending the caretaker administration of the ministry.

⏱️ Timeline

18 Oct 2026, 11:15 Iranian television reported that Iran's Shura Council granted confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi to become defense minister, a step completing the parliamentary voting process for this government post.
18 Oct 2026, 12:50 Iran's parliament approved the appointment of Mehrdad Akhlaghi Katabji as defense minister, ending months of vacancy at the head of the ministry, which had been run on a temporary basis since the killing of former minister Aziz Nasirzadeh in American and Israeli strikes on Iran late last February, before Majid Ibn al-Reza was tasked with running its affairs.
18 Oct 2026, 12:50 President Masoud Pezeshkian had nominated Katabji on October 6; he is a figure associated with the missile and drone industries and is subject to sanctions.

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

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📅 2026-10-18

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