The UN sanctioned Mehrdad Akhlaghi in 2007 over his alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities. (Mehr News Agency pic)TEHRAN: Iranian lawmakers on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country's new defence minister, replacing his predecessor who was killed on the first day of the war with the US.
"Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) today gave a vote of confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nominee for minister of defence and armed forces logistics," state television reported, nearly eight months after the initial US-Israeli strikes that sparked the conflict.
According to the government website, Akhlaghi "was elected to the post with 237 votes in favour", out of a total of 277 votes cast.
