Iranian parliament approves new defense minister

"Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) today gave a vote of confidence in Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nominee for minister of defense and armed forces logistics," state television reported, nearly eight months after the initial attacks that launched the US-Israeli conflict.

According to the government's website, Akhlaghi was elected to the post with 237 votes in favour, out of a total of 277 votes.

The experienced defense official replaced Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack on February 28. Former religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders also lost their lives in the attack.

HE WAS WORKING IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE FOR 42 YEARS

According to ISNA news agency, Akhlaghi said before the vote, "If the parliament's vote of confidence is given to me, the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense will fall on me in a sensitive period. Under these conditions, defending the country requires a correct understanding of the environment, grasping the logic behind developments, identifying influential trends and being ready to face different possible futures."

Although he does not hold a military rank, Akhlaghi has been with the defense ministry for 42 years and has been chairman of the Defense Industrial Organization of Iran, the state's arms manufacturer, since 2013.

The United Nations sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2007 for his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.