Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi, Iran’s new defense minister and veteran of its missile program?

Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country’s new defense minister on Sunday. His rise to the position in recent weeks is important. It helps stabilize Iran’s top defense leadership amid rising tensions in the Gulf. Iran expects more fighting to break out with the US or Israel. It is therefore trying to shore up its defenses at home and prepare for operations in the region. Akhlaghi is believed to have a background in Iran’s missile program and its broader defense industry. Given the Islamic Republic’s attempts to rebuild its industrial defense base, this matters. Reuters noted that Ketabchi is replacing Majid Ebn al-Reza, who took over in an interim capacity after then-defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed by US-Israeli strikes in February. The Iranian parliament widely supported Akhlaghi's appointment. He has said he will rebuild the country’s defense sector. Iran International, a media outlet critical of the Iranian regime, said that Akhlaghi was born in 1958. He studied chemical engineering at the Amirkabir University of Technology. Akhlaghi then earned a master’s degree in strategic management from the Malek Ashtar University of Technology, an institution affiliated with Iran’s Defense Ministry. Iranian state media provided a short bio, noting that “his previous positions include heading the Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group and serving as managing director of the Aerospace Industries Organization.” Akhlaghi worked in Iranian defense industries for over four decades Per the Iran International report, Akhlaghi “entered Iran’s defense industries in the early 1980s and spent more than four decades in technical, industrial, and managerial positions, according to Iranian state-linked media.” It added that “much of his career has involved solid-fuel missile propulsion systems and the management of industrial facilities associated with ballistic missile development.” The new defense minister also worked at the “Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, a subsidiary of the Aerospace Industries Organization involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program.” He became the head of the Aerospace Industries Organization in 2014 and then headed the Defense Industries Organization. Akhlaghi played a role in Iran’s Fateh-110 missile project, Iran International reported, as his “close relationship with Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a founder of the [IRGC’s] missile program, was central to his involvement in developing Iran’s missile industry.” New Iranian defense minister sanctioned by UN for involvement in missile program The new defense minister was sanctioned for his role in the missile program. In 2007, the UN listed Akhlaghi on a sanctions list “as an individual involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.” This was because he was listed as “head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, which is designated under resolution 1737 (2006) for its role in the ballistic missile program (designated under IRe.066),” the UN said. The US Treasury Department also sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2008. He is well known for his role in Iran’s missile program. He has also been involved in procuring items for the program. The person now in charge of Iran’s defense ministry is uniquely positioned to try to rebuild its missile program. In March, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that “after 20 days, I can tell you – Iran today has no ability to enrich uranium, and no ability to produce ballistic missiles.” Recent reports, however, indicate that Iran is rebuilding its missile program and has also repaired many missile launchers.