Tehran announces new defense minister

The Iranian Parliament has approved the appointment of Mehrdad Akhlagi Khatakji as Minister of Defense, following months of him managing the ministry on an interim basis. This move aims to bolster Iran's domestic military capabilities amidst the sanctions imposed on the country. The appointment is part of Iran's efforts to rebuild its air defense systems, missile programs, and drone fleets, and to enhance its military and deterrence capabilities—especially after the death of former Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and the international sanctions pressures on its military programs. Khatakji is known to be closely connected to the defense industry sector, and he has proposed a plan that includes restructuring the ministry and developing defense technologies, with the goal of strengthening Iran’s military resilience against regional challenges and Western sanctions.