Iran’s president hopes defense minister nominee can ‘survive,’ cites US ‘assassination list’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday he hopes his US-sanctioned defense minister nominee can “survive,” claiming that he is also on a US “assassination list.” Pezeshkian made the remarks in a virtual address to parliament during a session considering Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi’s nomination as minister of defense, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. Pezeshkian said Akhlaqi is under US sanctions and claimed that he is also on a US “assassination list.” He expressed hope that the nominee would “take care of himself” and, with support from the country’s institutions, “remain alive” and continue working to strengthen Iran’s defense capabilities. Pezeshkian urged lawmakers to give Akhlaqi a strong vote of confidence, saying he enjoys support across Iran’s armed forces, including the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the defense ministry and security institutions. Akhlaqi, a longtime senior defense ministry official, previously headed Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization and the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group (SBIG), which has been linked to the country’s ballistic missile program. He has been subject to US sanctions over his involvement in Iran’s missile-related activities. Akhlaqi was nominated to replace former Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during US-Israeli attacks on Iran earlier this year. Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek to attack other countries but would respond strongly to any attack against its territory. “Our defense is not only missiles; our defense is the people and the unity and cohesion we have in the country,” he said. ​​​​​​​He added that Tehran would not back down in the face of what he described as pressure and “bullying” by countries that attack Iran.