{
  "id": 16430557,
  "title": "Iran's new defence minister is a missile man, not a military man",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/irans-new-defence-minister-is-a-missile-man-not-a-military-man",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T04:47:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Al Majalla English",
    "slug": "al-majalla-english",
    "url": "https://en.majalla.com/node/333761/profiles/irans-new-defence-minister-missile-man-not-military-man"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Iran's new Defence Minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, is a missile specialist rather than a military officer. President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed him in October 2026, a decision that is particularly significant given the current geopolitical tensions. Akhlaghi is a veteran of Iran's military-industrial complex, with a deep connection to missile development and production. This is especially noteworthy as Iran's government relies heavily on its missile arsenal for survival.\n\nBorn in 1958 in Rasht, Akhlaghi is not widely known outside military circles, but he has been under UN sanctions since 2007 for his role in Iran's ballistic missile program. These sanctions were imposed by Western nations, including the US, EU, and Britain, reflecting the international concern over Iran's missile capabilities.\n\nAkhlaghi's career began in chemical engineering and strategic management, culminating in his senior role in Iran's missile industry by the mid-2000s. His rise in the defence industrial sector came at a time when Iran was at war with Iraq and facing international isolation. His appointment as Defence Minister thus brings a long-time insider into the public eye.\n\nPolitical connections play a crucial role in Iran's political landscape, and Akhlaghi's past associations have bolstered his rise. President Pezeshkian's nomination included Akhlaghi's former colleagues Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh. All were prominent figures in the Islamic Republic's strategic military establishment. Fakhrizadeh, a top nuclear programme figure, and Hajizadeh, who commanded the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force, were killed in recent years, while Moghaddam, known as the \"father of Iran’s missile programme,\" died in an explosion reportedly orchestrated by Israel.\n\nAkhlaghi's ties to these key figures place him at the nexus of Iran's defence ministry and some of the most sensitive military programmes. His association with these individuals, though unclear in terms of his role, solidifies his position as a surviving member of the generation that built Iran's strategic deterrent.",
  "summary": "Iran's new defence minister is a missile man, not a military man newspress_en Sun, 10/25/2026 - 04:47 Profiles Mehrdad Akhlaghi was appointed defence minister in October 2026 by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He is an unusual choice, as, unlike most of his predecessors, he does not come from a uniformed military background. And his appointment comes arguably at the most sensitive time in…",
  "key_points": [
    "Mehrdad Akhlaghi appointed as Iran's new Defence Minister in October 2026",
    "Missile specialist, not a military officer, from Iran's military-industrial complex",
    "Appointed amid geopolitical tensions, connects to sensitive military programmes"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing a missile specialist over a traditional military officer signals Tehran's intent to place its strategic deterrent at the absolute center of its national defense and survival strategy.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}