Iran names sanctioned official defence minister

Summary

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed hope that his nominee for defence minister, Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi, will remain alive and continue strengthening the country’s military capabilities, claiming that the official is also on a US “assassination list.” Pezeshkian made the remarks in a virtual address to parliament on Sunday as lawmakers considered Akhlaqi’s nomination, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
• Pezeshkian urged lawmakers to endorse Akhlaqi, saying he had backing from across Iran’s military and security establishment, including the regular army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Defence Ministry.
• Parliament subsequently approved Akhlaqi as Iran’s new defence minister, state broadcaster IRIB reported.

AI Generated Summary

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed hope that his nominee for defence minister, Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi, will remain alive and continue strengthening the country’s military capabilities, claiming that the official is also on a US “assassination list.”