Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi Iran Defence Minister: Iran’s Parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country’s new Defence Minister. The decision was taken on Sunday after the previous minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, was killed in the war involving the United States and Israel on February 28. Majid Ebn al-Reza had been serving as acting minister since Nasirzadeh’s death, according to Iran International.
Ketabchi will take charge of Iran’s Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Ministry at a time of rising tensions with the US and Israel. He has spent decades working in Iran’s weapons industry and has been linked to organisations involved in the country’s missile programme.
A total of 237 lawmakers voted in favour of Ketabchi’s appointment, while 15 voted against it. There were 277 votes cast in the parliamentary process. President Masoud Pezeshkian had nominated him for the post on October 5.
Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi?
Iran International has described Ketabchi as the “architect of Guards’ missiles” because of his long involvement in Iran’s missile industry.
He was reportedly born on September 10, 1958, in Rasht in northern Iran. He studied chemical engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology before earning a master’s degree in strategic management from Malek Ashtar University of Technology, an institution linked to Iran’s Defence Ministry. Ketabchi entered Iran’s defence industries in the early 1980s. He has since worked in technical and management roles for more than four decades. His work has included industrial facilities connected to ballistic missile production and aerospace technology.
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Ketabchi’s Role in Iran’s Missile Industry
Ketabchi previously headed the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group, which is part of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization and is involved in the country’s ballistic missile programme. He was appointed managing director of the group in November 2014.
He later became head of the Defence Industries Organization. The organisation produces conventional weapons and supplies military equipment to Iran’s armed forces.
Ketabchi also worked with Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, who helped build the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ missile programme and is widely known as the father of Iran’s ballistic missile programme. Moghaddam died in an explosion at a military facility near Tehran in November 2011.
According to Iran’s IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency, Ketabchi approved $10 million in equipment purchases and production facilities for the Fateh-110 missile project. The report cited The Eternal Man, a biography written by Masoumeh Sepehri. The decision was reportedly made despite doubts about whether the project would succeed.
Sanctions Imposed by the US, UN and Europe
Ketabchi has faced international sanctions because of his role in Iran’s missile and defence industries. The United Nations Security Council included him in Resolution 1747, adopted on March 24, 2007, when he was identified as the head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group.
The US Treasury Department sanctioned him in 2008. The first Trump administration also imposed sanctions on him in 2020 over his position as head of the Defence Industries Organization.
Britain imposed sanctions on Ketabchi in 2023 over his alleged involvement in activities related to systems capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The European Union has also sanctioned him because of his senior roles in Iran’s defence and aerospace industries.
Ketabchi Warns Trump Against Further Attacks
After taking charge as defence minister, Ketabchi warned US President Donald Trump against launching more attacks on Iran. He said the country was prepared to deal with the threat posed by the “Mother of All Bombs”.
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“We have taken all necessary measures to counter the ‘Mother of All Bombs’ and are confident in our preparations. We are carrying out our duties with complete confidence,” Ketabchi said, according to Press TV.
He also warned Trump about the possible consequences of further military action. As reported by ANI, Ketabchi said, “Trump should focus on getting his forces out of the region safely. If he drops a bomb, he should consider how many of his troops might have to be carried out in body bags. If he follows through on his threats, he will have to face the consequences.”
Speaking in Parliament before his appointment was approved, Ketabchi also warned against further attacks by the US and Israel.
“If the American-Zionist enemy once again makes a miscalculation, the response of the Iranian nation and the fighters of Islam will be surprising and extensive.”
