Iranupdated 54m ago2 min read
Pezeshkian Says Iran Won’t Bow as Parliament Weighs Mehrdad Akhlaghi Defense Minister
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President Pezeshkian vows Iran will not bow to aggressors while parliament considers Akhlaghi for defense minister. Parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as defense minister after eight months of vacancy.
Anadolu Ajansı was read line by line by the Watchdog: 4.3. See the score →
Pezeshkian backs nominee
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Parliament on Sunday that Iran will not bow to aggressors as lawmakers weighed his nominee for defense minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi.
Pezeshkian said Akhlaghi’s academic qualifications and professional record within the Defense Ministry were “beyond question,” and he pointed to Akhlaghi’s collaboration with prominent figures across the nation’s defense industry, including martyred senior IRGC commanders Brigadiers General Hassan Tehrani-Moqaddam and Amir-Ali Hajizadeh.
Pezeshkian also credited Iran’s Armed Forces with a resolute defense of the country’s territory in the face of US-Israeli aggression, and he said Iran has no intention of invading other nations but would respond forcefully to any aggression.
Pezeshkian told lawmakers, “We have not attacked any country, nor do we intend to invade any territory. However, in the face of any aggression, we will stand firm with strength and courage, even at the cost of our lives,” and he added that unity and cohesion would prevent Iran from being brought to its knees.
Parliament approves defense minister
Tehran chose Mehrdad Ajlaqi this Sunday as the new Minister of Defense, eight months after his predecessor died in the February 28 attacks by the United States and Israel that unleashed the war in the Middle East. Europa Press reported that Parliament backed Ajlaqi with 237 votes in favor, 15 against, and none abstentions from a total of 277 attendees, and it said Ajlaqi succeeded Mayid Ibnalreza, who held the post on an interim basis after the death of Aziz Nasirzadé.
Ajlaqi told Parliament that after the last twelve days of bombings “the defensive capabilities have been restored and have been improved in a way that has changed the enemy’s estimates and calculations,” and he warned that Donald Trump “should start thinking about withdrawing his troops to a safe zone.” Iranian lawmakers approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country’s new defense minister on Sunday, state television reported, with the vote of confidence given to the nominee for minister of defense and armed forces logistics.
Sanctions, threats, and priorities
Anadolu Ajansı reported that Pezeshkian hoped his US-sanctioned defense minister nominee could “survive,” claiming Akhlaqi was also on a US “assassination list,” as Parliament considered Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi to replace former defense chief killed in US-Israeli attacks. Kurdistan24 said Akhlaghi outlined plans for missiles, drones, air defense and military production after Parliament approved him in a 237-15 vote, and it reported that he warned any renewed U.S. military action against Iran would receive what he described as a “surprising and extensive” response.
Ajlaqi said Iran had taken the necessary measures to face the “mother of all bombs,” and it quoted him telling Donald Trump, “Trump should worry about pulling his troops out of our region safe and sound.” Al-Manar TV Lebanon said Pezeshkian argued Iran’s defenses extended beyond military hardware, identifying national solidarity and public support as essential to confronting external pressure, and he said, “If unity and cohesion continues, no power will be able to bring us to our knees.”