ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran's parliament on Sunday is expected to vote on a defense minister nominee with a long record in the country’s missile industry, as Tehran faces an ongoing war with the US and Israel.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has nominated Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, 68, for the post.
Ketabchi remained a mysterious figure until his nomination as Iran’s defense minister, with no reliably identified photographs of him publicly available. He has been sanctioned by the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union over his work in the sector.
Iran’s parliament is expected to hold a confidence vote on Sunday, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Ketabchi’s career includes leading the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG), an organization linked to Iran’s ballistic missile program. He spent decades in Iran’s missile industry, working alongside senior missile experts, many of whom were killed in US and Israeli strikes.
The United Nations listed him in 2007 over his role in Iran’s missile-related activities. The US Treasury Department sanctioned Ketabchi in July 2008 under an executive order targeting individuals involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
At the time, the department said he played a key role in SBIG’s day-to-day operations and negotiated equipment purchases for the group. The European Union has also imposed sanctions on him.
Iran’s missile program demonstrated remarkable resilience during both the 12-day and 40-day wars, despite sustained US and Israeli bombardment.
The UN re-established its Iran sanctions regime in September 2025, with Ketabchi included among the individuals listed under the measures.
Ketabchi has also led Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization, which operates under the Defense Ministry and is involved in the country’s aerospace and missile industries. His record places him among the officials who have worked in Iran’s military production network.
His nomination comes after former defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in an Israeli strike at the start of the war in late February. Majid Ebn al-Reza has served as acting defense minister.
Since his nomination, Ketabchi has signaled that he intends to continue his predecessor’s work. During a visit to Nasirzadeh’s home, he said he would pursue the late minister’s defense program “with full force,” according to Defa Press, an Iranian military news outlet. He also said reorganizing the country’s defense industries would be a priority.
On Wednesday, Ketabchi met Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi to discuss cooperation between the armed forces and Iran’s defense industries, Tasnim reported.
Vahidi called for greater use of domestic capabilities and closer coordination between military units and industrial organizations, saying this could improve combat capabilities and defense readiness. Ketabchi also stressed the need to make better use of existing resources and ensure that military units receive the equipment they need.
The vote potentially positions Ketabchi at the helm of Iran’s Defense Ministry at a time when the country is under intense military pressure and seeking to sustain its defense production.
If Ketabchi’s nomination is approved, it could signal further investment in a sector that has become a cornerstone of Iran’s national security strategy.
