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

Ketabchi was sanctioned for his role in the missile program. In 2007, the UN listed him on a sanctions list “as an individual involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.”

Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country's new defense minister on Sunday. His rise to the position helps stabilize Iran’s top defense leadership at a time of increased tensions in the Gulf. Iran expects more fighting to break out with the US or Israel. Iran therefore is trying to shore up its defenses at home and prepare for operations in the region.

Ketabchi is believed to have a background in Iran’s missile program and its broader defense industry. As Iran attempts to rebuild its defense industrial base, this matters. Reuters noted that he replaces 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. Ketabchi was widely supported by parliament in his appointment. Ketabchi has said he will rebuild the country’s defense sector.

Iran International, which is a media outlet critical of the Iranian regime, noted that Ketabchi was born in 1958. He studied chemical engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology. He earned a master's degree in strategic management from Malek Ashtar University of Technology, an institution affiliated with the 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.”

Ketabchi worked in Iranian defense industries for over four decades

However, the Iran International report noted that Ketabchi “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 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. He played a role in Iran’s Fateh-110 missile project, Iran International noted. “Akhlaghi's close relationship with Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, a founder of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' 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

He was sanctioned for his role in the missile program. In 2007, the UN listed him on a sanctions list “as an individual involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.”

Ketabachi was listed as “head of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG), which is designated under resolution 1737 (2006) for its role in the ballistic missile program (designated under IRe.066),” by the UN. The US Treasury Department also sanctioned him 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.

This puts a person in charge of Iran’s defense ministry who is uniquely positioned to try to rebuild the 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.” However, recent reports indicate Iran is rebuilding its missile program and has also repaired many missile launchers.