Iran approves new defense minister, warns US of 'huge damage'
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Neutral summary
Iran's parliament on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as defense minister, with 237 of 277 lawmakers voting in favor, according to IRNA. He replaces acting minister Majid Ebnelreza; his predecessor Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in US-Israeli strikes in February that, per O Globo, started the war in the Middle East. In his first remarks, Ketabchi warned the US that if 'the American enemy commits another miscalculation, the response from the proud Iranian nation and the warriors of Islam will be both surprising and extensive,' adding that 'regional and global consequences will rest solely upon the terrorist US government and its allies.' President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would never bow to Washington's 'excessive demands' and would continue its resistance. Ali Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said a new 'far more destructive' plan against the US and Israel had been prepared. The IRGC chief pledged full support to the new minister in countering the enemy's 'hybrid war.' Ketabchi's background is in ballistic missiles and aerospace technology; the UN sanctioned him in 2007 for involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities, The Jerusalem Post reports. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remains on the table, with talks to resume on the seventh day if Washington accepts its conditions. RTS also reported that a tugboat was hit by two projectiles of unknown origin off the UAE coast.
How it was framed
Outlets: 29. Countries: 12. Facts in the shared core: 5.
Publication timeline
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Iranian parliament weighs defense minister nominee’s credentials. Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s parliament has started reviewing the qualifications and plans of Defense Minister-designate Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi during its pu…
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CGTN (outlet profile)
Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defense. Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defense
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Akhlaghi becomes Iran’s new defense minister. Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s parliament has approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as the country’s new minister of defense and armed forces logistics, endorsing his appointment by Pre…
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Tanjug (outlet profile)
Pezeškijan: Iran se nikada neće pokoriti preteranim zahtevima SAD
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Pezeshkian backs defense minister nominee, says expertise can boost Iran’s defense capabilities. Tehran, IRNA – President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, his nominee for defense minister, expre…
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Politika (outlet profile)
Пезешкијан: Иран се никада неће повиновати захтевима САД. Пезешкијан одбацио америчке захтеве и затражио подршку за новог министра одбране
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Alo! (outlet profile)
Teheran ima pakleni odgovor! Amerika se spremna za napad na Iran. Iranski predsednik Masud Pezeškijan izjavio je danas na sastanku radi razmatranja kvalifikacija predloženog novog ministra odbrane Irana Mehrdada…
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RTS (outlet profile)
Иран добио новог министра одбране; погођен брод код обала УАЕ. Ирански парламент изабрао је Мехрдада Ахлакија Кетабчија за новог министра одбране, који ће на тој функцији заменити Шахида Насирзадеха, погинулог у америчк…
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Politika (outlet profile)
Иран добио новог министра одбране. Парламент Ирана потврдио Кетабчија за министра одбране
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B92 (outlet profile)
"Nikada se nećemo pokoriti Americi". Iranski predsednik Masud Pezeškijan izjavio je danas na sastanku radi razmatranja kvalifikacija predloženog novog ministra odbrane Irana Mehrdada Akhlaghija Ketabčija, da s…
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The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlachi as defense minister after predecessor killed by Israel. Akhlachi replaces Majid Ebn al-Reza, who took over in an interim capacity after then Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh w…
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Deutsche Welle (outlet profile)
Парламент Ирана утвердил Мехрдада Кетабчи в должности министра обороны страны. Бывший глава Организации аэрокосмической промышленности Ирана Мехрдад Ахлаги Кетабчи назначен новым министром обороны страны. Против него де…
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Al-Monitor (outlet profile)
Iran's parliament approves Mehrdad Akhlaqi as minister of defence. DUBAI, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Iran's parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaqi Ketabchi as defence minister on Sunday, ending months of interim leadership at the…
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Defense minister undermines Trump’s new anti-Iran threats. Tehran, IRNA — The newly appointed defense minister of Iran, Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi, has reacted to the US president’s bluster, saying that the necessary mea…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Iran's new defence minister issues warning to the US. Iran's new defence minister issues warning to the US Iran's newly appointed defence minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, has issued a warning to the US, saying: "If…
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Sputnik Srbija (outlet profile)
Председник Ирана: Никада се нећемо покорити претераним захтевима САД. Ирански председник Масуд Пезешкијан изјавио је данас на састанку ради разматрања квалификација предложеног новог министра одбране Ирана Мехрдада Ахла…
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Iran ready for more devastating response to any new US adventurism: Rezaei. Tehran, IRNA — Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Major General Mohsen Rezaei, says that Iran’s Armed Forces have prepa…
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Insajder (outlet profile)
Pezeškijan: Iran se nikada neće pokoriti preteranim zahtevima SAD. Iranski predsednik Masud Pezeškijan izjavio je danas na sastanku radi razmatranja kvalifikacija predloženog novog ministra odbrane Irana Mehrdada Akhlag…
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Коммерсантъ (outlet profile)
В Иране выбрали нового министра обороны // Иранский парламент утвердил Мехрдада Ахлаки на посту министра обороны. Новым министром обороны Ирана стал Мехрдад Ахлаки Кетабчи. За его кандидатуру проголосовали 237 из 277 де…
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O Globo (outlet profile)
Novo Ministro da Defesa iraniano ameaça causar "enormes danos" aos Estados Unidos se voltarem a atacá-los. O novo Ministro da Defesa do Irã, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, ameaçou neste domingo (18) infligir "danos enormes" aos Esta…
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IRNA (outlet profile)
Pezeshkian: Parliament’s approval of defense minister nominee sends message of unity. Tehran, IRNA – President Masoud Pezeshkian says parliament’s approval of the nominee for defense minister sends a clear message of un…
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Politika (outlet profile)
Ирански министар одбране упозорио САД на последице „погрешне процене”. Нови министар одбране упутио јасну поруку Вашингтону
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B92 (outlet profile)
Upozorenje Amerikancima: "Ako napravite još jednu grešku...". Novi iranski ministar odbrane Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabči upozorio je danas Sjedinjene Američke Države da ne naprave, kako je naveo, "još jednu pogreš…
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www.rbc.ru (outlet profile)
Иран заявил о новом «разрушительном» плане ответа на атаки США и Израиля. Иран разработал новый план, который, по словам секретаря Высшего совета нацбезопасности Али Резаи, будет «гораздо более разрушительным&raqu…
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Профиль (outlet profile)
Новым министром обороны Ирана стал Мехрдад Ахлаги. За кандидатуру Мехрдада Ахлаги в воскресенье, 18 октября 2026 года, проголосовали 237 из 277 депутатов иранского парламента. Ахлаги сменил на посту временного главу Мин…
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Интерфакс (outlet profile)
Парламент Ирана утвердил в должности нового министра обороны. Иранские законодатели в воскресенье утвердили Мехрдада Ахлаги в должности министра обороны страны, передает иранское государственное телевидение."Сегодня чле…
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Valor Economico (outlet profile)
Irã apela aos EUA a aceitarem proposta para reabrir Estreito de Ormuz. A oferta do Irã aos Estados Unidos para reabrir o Estreito de Ormuz dentro de sete dias continua sobre a mesa, afirmou o ministro das Relações Exter…
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Valor Econômico (outlet profile)
Irã apela aos EUA a aceitarem proposta para reabrir Estreito de Ormuz. A oferta do Irã aos Estados Unidos para reabrir o Estreito de Ormuz dentro de sete dias continua sobre a mesa, afirmou o ministro das Relações Exter…
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Al Jazeera (outlet profile)
Who is Mehrdad Akhlaghi, Iran’s new tech-focused defence minister?. Akhlaghi's experience centres on ballistic missiles, aerospace technology and defence-industrial production.
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UOL (outlet profile)
Irã nomeia novo ministro da Defesa oito meses após morte de antecessor. O Irã nomeou hoje Mehrdad Ajlaqi como novo ministro da Defesa, oito meses após a morte de seu antecessor nos ataques dos Estados Unidos e de Israel…
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Jovem Pan (outlet profile)
Irã nomeia novo ministro da Defesa 8 meses após antecessor ser morto por EUA e Israel. Desde então, o cargo vinha sendo ocupado, de forma interina, por um general da Guarda Revolucionária, Majid Ebnelreza
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Clarín (outlet profile)
Nuevo ministro de Defensa de Irán amenaza con "daños enormes" si EEUU ataca. El nuevo jefe de Defensa iraní, tras su designación, advirtió sobre graves repercusiones para Washington y sus aliados si reanudan acciones mi…
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Blic (outlet profile)
Iran ima novog ministra odbrane i on je upravo oštro upozorio Vašington: "Nemojte da napravite još jednu pogrešnu procenu". Merdad Ahlaki Ketabči izabran je danas za novog ministra odbrane Irana i u svom obraćanju on je…
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El Comercio (Perú) (outlet profile)
Nuevo ministro de Defensa de Irán amenaza con “daños enormes” si Estados Unidos ataca. Mehrdad Ajlaqi advirtió que Washington y sus aliados en Medio Oriente sufrirán graves consecuencias si Estados Unidos reanuda los at…
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The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
New Iranian defense minister has background in missile development, broader defense industry. Ketabchi was sanctioned for his role in the missile program. In 2007, the UN listed him on a sanctions list “as an individual…
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Ведомости (outlet profile)
В Иране назначили нового министра обороны
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CNBC (outlet profile)
Iran says it has a 'new operational plan' if the U.S. resumes attacks, as shipping vessels report strikes. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the country's military has prepared a…
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News.ru (outlet profile)
Иран объявил о «разрушительном» плане в отношении США. Секретарь Высшего совета нацбезопасности Ирана Али Резаи заявил о разработке нового, «гораздо более разрушительного» плана против США и Израиля.
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IRNA (outlet profile)
IRGC chief pledges full support to new defense minister in countering enemy’s hybrid war. Tehran, IRNA – The commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has commended Mehrdad Akhlaqi on his appointm…
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Iran's Araghchi says US-Iran negotiations are not over. Iran's Araghchi says US-Iran negotiations are not over At a diplomatic summit in Baghdad on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran’s offer to…
Factual core
- The Iranian parliament elected Mehrdad Ahlaki Ketabchi as the new Minister of Defense.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran will never submit to excessive US demands.
- Iran announced a new plan to respond to attacks by the US and Israel.
- Iranian Defense Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi warned the United States not to make another miscalculation.
- Pezeshkian said Iran will continue to offer unwavering resistance.
In the daily issue: The day in brief — October 18, 2026
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