{
  "id": 15401871,
  "title": "Iran’s parliament approves new defence minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-new-defence-minister-15401871",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T10:20:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/18/iran-s-parliament-approves-new-defence-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Iranian lawmakers have approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country's new defence minister, following the recent US-Israeli strikes that claimed the life of his predecessor. The Islamic Consultative Assembly voted 237 to 277 in favour of Akhlaghi's nomination for the post of minister of defence and armed forces logistics. The unanimous endorsement comes nearly eight months after the initial attacks sparked the conflict. Akhlaghi, a veteran defence official with 42 years of service, will assume responsibility for the defence ministry at a critical time. Despite having no military rank, he has played a significant role in the defence sector, leading the Iranian Defence Industries Organisation since 2013. The UN sanctioned Akhlaghi in 2007 due to his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.",
  "summary": "Mehrdad Akhlaghi replaces Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack on Feb 28 alongside former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Iranian parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/iranian-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaghi-as-defense-minister",
        "published": "2026-10-18T08:36:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defence, state media",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaqi-as-minister-of-defence",
        "published": "2026-10-18T08:37:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-mehrdad-akhlaqi-as-minister-of-defence-15392587",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:46:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Iran names new defence minister as he warns US over ‘Mother of All Bombs’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/iran-names-new-defence-minister-as-he-warns-us-over-mother-of-all",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:57:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Iran's new defence minister issues warning to the US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-new-defence-minister-issues-warning-to-the-us",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:59:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Iran’s parliament approves new defence minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/irans-parliament-approves-new-defence-minister",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:20:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}